Glaucoma monitoring contact lenses crafted at UC Davis

Far from the first circuit-laden contact lens we've laid eyes on (ahem), researchers at UC Davis have more than bragging rights in mind with their "smart" contacts. The devices are infused with a "pattern of conductive silver wires, which could be used to measure pressure inside the eye." The material, dubbed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), would boast antimicrobial properties and could enable scientists to better study glaucoma. How so? By sending pressure data to computers sans wires. Better still, the contacts also include the ability to automatically dispense medication into the eye, making this beneficial in more ways than one. The creators are expected to apply for approval to begin testing the lenses in humans here shortly, and barring any unforeseen (sorry, totally unintentional there) setbacks, we would hope these could be put to use within the next few years.

[Via medGadget]

[A-biotic @ Aug 6th 2008 12:14AM]

Go AGS!!!

(sorry but I had to cheer for my university)

[yode @ Aug 6th 2008 1:20AM]

UC Davis blows. Almost as bad as UC Irvine.

[battle.panda @ Aug 6th 2008 1:29AM]

Go Cal Aggies!!!

[Alex @ Aug 6th 2008 2:29AM]

Yode.. where did u go? Sac State huh? i thought so

[Justin F @ Aug 6th 2008 3:12AM]

@yode

I go to UCI. And I guarantee this of myself: 10x more brains and 100x more success than a blubbering idiot like you.

[Justin F @ Aug 6th 2008 3:13AM]

@yode #2

Ass.

[yode @ Aug 6th 2008 4:40AM]

i go to USC. I currently have a 3.8 GPA, majoring in Business Admin. I doubt they have 10x the brains and 100x the success that I have. And think before you call me a 'trust fund baby'. Sorry about the remark about UCD, I was just pissy at the guy cheering for his university on an engadget entry.

[msm @ Aug 6th 2008 10:01AM]

@yode

Right, you have 10x the brains and 100x the success as people at UCD, make a big fuss about it, and yet somehow you just can't quite get that GPA two points higher...pity.

[Alex @ Aug 6th 2008 10:35AM]

@yode..

We dont need you to brag about how great you are at some University.. thats the problem I have with people that goes to big name U... always have to wear a bigger hat than you can fit.. bunch of hot headed morons.. i'm not saying USC is not a good school.. but we dont need you kids to run around bragging about how great you are at some school .. big f-ing deal.. .the truth is .. nobody gives a crap what your gpa is.. and why did you bring it up anyways? so that you can prove to everyone that you have some brain? naming off where you went to school and how "great" you are at it doesnt make people respect you or your opinion.. and you think your school is so great that you have to look down upon other schools... that shows how smart and mature you are... I've seen kids coming from schools like yours who are supposed to be really smart (with high gpa) who are as dumb as a rock ... I've also seen kids coming from schools which you may call "schools that dont have 10x the brains" who are super bright kids... so YOU think before you speak... I hope later in life you will find your opinion idiotic and dont take this reply as an offensive to you.. learn from it and dont let your ego take over..

[Justin F @ Aug 6th 2008 9:51PM]

Amen. My roommate had a 3.9 and is going to UC Berkeley's school of law...but is dumb as rocks.

Anyone can achieve a high GPA with the right amount of studying. My GPA isn't a 3.8, but also such high GPA's are less common in Biomedical Engineering than business admin. Hopefully you see where such callous, egocentric remarks will get you in life.

[Link2877 @ Aug 6th 2008 12:21AM]

ahhh Come on wheres my contact display, I want my contact display damn it!

[who? @ Aug 6th 2008 2:22AM]

Yeah, with a bluetooth media streaming adapter for every PMP to your contacts!!! Hooray!


One problem- when you need to drive, would it be safer to take them out of leave them in? Decisions, decisions...

[who? @ Aug 6th 2008 2:23AM]

*or

[who? @ Aug 6th 2008 12:23AM]

Talk about seeing stars! You would think that stuff would block you vision, but that I'm guessing it doesn't as that would pretty much defeat the purpose... ;-)

[who? @ Aug 6th 2008 12:24AM]

edit: *your

[Colin Potter @ Aug 6th 2008 1:35AM]

better than glaucoma.

[Fatima @ Aug 6th 2008 12:23AM]

How are you supposed see through those? It seems the copper wiring there blocks your vision.

[Bryant @ Aug 6th 2008 1:04AM]

you know how when you put your face against the screen of a window, the screen blurs away because it's out of focus?

Same principle.

[Seanross @ Aug 6th 2008 1:38AM]

If you ever wore contacts you'd know you can see through all that... you'd have to actually concentrate and try to look at the copper, it's not the same as wearing glasses.

Not being rude, just saying.

[linuxamp @ Aug 6th 2008 5:16AM]

I disagree. Color contacts are colored around the iris but clear in the pupil area where light enters. These contacts appear to have too much opaque surface over the pupil. Visibility will be significantly reduced especially in the dark.

[Alex @ Aug 6th 2008 10:28AM]

That's probably just a render. Wires should be much thinner than that and then invisible due to out of focus. Such a big, opaque circuit would render the lens completely useless.

[Seanross @ Aug 6th 2008 4:59PM]

ehhh.. have you ever seen those big ugly vinyls that people put on the rear windshield of trucks and suvs?

You'd think you wouldn't be able to see out of them from the inside but you can

[jazir @ Aug 6th 2008 12:33AM]

ah yes another way to know when you need pot

[霽月瀛台 @ Aug 6th 2008 12:55AM]

GO AGGIES!!!!!!!!!

[ryan @ Aug 6th 2008 1:05AM]

I see what you did there, Engadget.

[Ayman @ Aug 6th 2008 1:10AM]

"I just knew when I looked in your copper eyes that I wanted to be with you"
That'll catch on ...

[jezreel Supetran @ Aug 6th 2008 1:20AM]

UCD UCD UCD. Damn too bad I wasn't first.

[Ismael Blanco Jr. @ Aug 6th 2008 1:22AM]

GO AGGGIES!!!

@yode

go suck on a lemon.

[majortom @ Aug 6th 2008 1:25AM]

My ex wife used to get PDMS about 28 days a month.....

[Colin Potter @ Aug 6th 2008 1:38AM]

easy Leno... save it for on air

[Alex @ Aug 6th 2008 2:30AM]

Go Ages!

[ntlam @ Aug 6th 2008 2:46AM]

Another step toward better use of technology to improve human life ;-)

Anyway... we will expect to see more improvement in these area right? Maybe one day we could have display or even camera mounted in contact lens ;-) oh my god, spying everywhere.

[Karen @ Aug 6th 2008 8:28AM]

you can find further information on the pros and cons of contact lens wear v. Lasik at http://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/lasik-contact-lens.shtml.