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A Microfluidic Contact Lens to Address Contact Lens-Induced Dry Eye

Authors :
Zhu, Yangzhi
Nasiri, Rohollah
Davoodi, Elham
Zhang, Shiming
Saha, Sourav
Linn, Matthew
Jiang, Lu
Haghniaz, Reihaneh
Hartel, Martin C.
Jucaud, Vadim
Dokmeci, Mehmet R.
Herland, Anna
Toyserkani, Ehsan
Khademhosseini, Ali
Zhu, Yangzhi
Nasiri, Rohollah
Davoodi, Elham
Zhang, Shiming
Saha, Sourav
Linn, Matthew
Jiang, Lu
Haghniaz, Reihaneh
Hartel, Martin C.
Jucaud, Vadim
Dokmeci, Mehmet R.
Herland, Anna
Toyserkani, Ehsan
Khademhosseini, Ali
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

The contact lens (CL) industry has made great strides in improving CL-wearing experiences. However, a large amount of CL wearers continue to experience ocular dryness, known as contact lens-induced dry eye (CLIDE), stemming from the reduction in tear volume, tear film instability, increased tear osmolarity followed by inflammation and resulting in ocular discomfort and visual disturbances. In this article, to address tear film thinning between the CL and the ocular surface, the concept of using a CL with microchannels to deliver the tears from the pre-lens tear film (PrLTF) to the post-lens ocular surface using in vitro eye-blink motion is investigated. This study reports an eye-blink mimicking system with microfluidic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) hydrogel with integrated microchannels to demonstrate eye-blink assisted flow through microchannels. This in vitro experimental study provides a proof-of-concept result that tear transport from PrLTF to post-lens tear film can be enhanced by an artificial eyelid motion in a pressure range of 0.1–5 kPa (similar to human eyelid pressure) through poly(HEMA) microchannels. Simulation is conducted to support the hypothesis. This work demonstrates the feasibility of developing microfluidic CLs with the potential to help prevent or minimize CLIDE and discomfort by the enhanced transport of pre-lens tears to the post-lens ocular surface.<br />QC 20230626

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1400070650
Document Type :
Electronic Resource
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002.smll.202207017