Purdue Researcher Leads Teams Creating Smart Contacts for Eye Health
A researcher at Purdue University’s College of Engineering is spearheading efforts to develop patent-pending smart soft contact lenses for chronic eye diseases like glaucoma, neovascularization, and dry eyes. With grants totaling $6.7 million from the National Eye Institute, Chi Hwan Lee and his team are working on innovative solutions to monitor and treat these conditions.
The smart contacts can deliver therapeutic drugs or measure intraocular pressure, a key factor in glaucoma risk. Lee, an associate professor of Biomedical Engineering, is collaborating with experts from various fields to bring this technology to life.
The team includes researchers from Purdue, Indiana University, and Michigan Medicine, as well as industry professionals like Jinyuan Zhang from Apple. Together, they are pushing the boundaries of eye disease treatment with cutting-edge technology.
The National Eye Institute funding will support further development of the smart contacts and clinical trials to assess their effectiveness. Lee envisions a future where these lenses can revolutionize the way we manage chronic eye conditions.
This groundbreaking innovation has been disclosed to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization for patent protection. With Purdue’s commitment to excellence and innovation, the future looks bright for eye health technology.
For more information, contact Steve Martin at sgmartin@prf.org.