A Purdue-affiliated startup, Bionode LLC, is developing a contact lens with a trace of gold that could be used as a non-invasive, personalized therapy to treat and prevent elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients.
The technology was reportedly developed by a professor in Purdue's Center for Implantable Devices. The single trace of gold in the contact lens is reportedly capable of receiving an electromagnetic field transmitted from a specially-equipped pair of glasses that converts the field into a current. The current is then reportedly delivered to a specific area of the eye to achieve the desired therapy.
According to researchers, their device can electrically stimulate the muscles around Schlemm's canal, helping to decrease pressure in a non-invasive, non-surgical way.
Bionode reportedly as a working prototype and they are currently seeking $1.5 million in funding to conduct a full human clinical trial to demonstrate the device's durability and effectiveness.
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Source: Purdue University