Advancements in contact lens technology
The idea for contact lenses has existed since the 1500s, thanks to Leonardo da Vinci’s suggestion of altering the human eye by placing the cornea directly in contact with water. However, it wasn’t until 1971, when eye care giant Bausch + Lomb introduced the first mass-produced soft contacts to the US market, that contacts were more widely adopted. Still considered a novel device, these contact lenses were made from hydrogel material that allowed more oxygen to reach the cornea. Fifty years on, soft contact lenses continue to be used by millions of people.
The demand for contact lenses as a primary vision correction tool has only grown, fueling further advancements in lens materials. Now, there are contacts made of silicone hydrogel, hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylics, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) that improve comfort, durability, and optical clarity, enhancing the overall patient experience. Aside from better materials, the market offers a range of options tailored to various preferences, including daily disposables, extended-wear lenses, and specialized lenses for conditions like astigmatism and presbyopia.
The accessibility of these advanced contact lenses has also improved. No longer confined to brick-and-mortar opticians, consumers can now buy contact lenses online. Established retailer Lenstore, for one, allows customers to easily purchase a variety of lenses such as multifocal, toric, and even colored contacts. This platform delivers affordable contact lenses straight to customers’ doorsteps, making vision correction more convenient than ever. The shift towards online retail has widened access to high-quality eye care products, further enhancing the usability and appeal of contacts.
Contact lenses as smart tools
In recent years, contact lenses have evolved beyond vision correction, incorporating smart technology to offer additional functionalities. Researchers and companies have been developing smart contact lenses that can monitor health conditions and deliver medication.
Scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) developed one of the most promising applications of smart contact lenses. These contacts can capture and detect exosomes from tears, which have the potential to be diagnostic cancer biomarkers. This capability can streamline the cancer screening process, as it’s a diagnostic tool that is simple, fast, cost-effective, and non-invasive.
Smart contact lenses are also being designed to deliver medication directly to the eye. Currently, eyedrops are the most common method of administering ocular medication. Yet, the eye’s physiological and anatomical barriers limit its effectiveness, with only 5% of the medication being absorbed. Drug-eluting contact lenses overcome these barriers, giving the drug more time to reach the target site and increasing bioavailability to 50%. Though some challenges remain before this device reaches the market, it could treat various ocular conditions such as ocular hypertension and cystoid macular edema.
The evolution of contact lenses reflects broader trends in technology and healthcare, where innovation continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible. From improving vision to monitoring health, contact lenses are poised to remain at the forefront of technological advancement, offering benefits outside of traditional vision correction.
This article was written for WHN by RUTH ANN JOHN who is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about health, wellness, and sustainability. When she’s not typing away at her keyboard, you can find her completing an oil painting or doing DIY projects.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.openpr.com/news/3573091/contact-and-intraocular-lenses-market-size-to-hit-usd-22-9
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP088594
https://worldhealth.net/news/smart-contact-lenses-cancer-diagnostics-and-screening/
https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/power-contact-lenses-drug-delivery-eye-and-more
