Yonsei Advanced Science Institute

Intraocular islet transplantation was investigated as a new procedure to treat diabetes. The development of this procedure requires close monitoring of the function of both eye and islet graft. We developed a soft, smart contact lens to monitor the intraocular pressure and applied this for noninvasive monitoring in association with the intraocular islet transplantation in diabetes. A strain sensor inside the lens can detect detailed changes in intraocular pressure by focusing the strain only in the desired, selective area of the contact lens. In addition, this smart contact lens can transmit the real-time value of the intraocular pressure wirelessly using an antenna. The wireless measurement of intraocular pressure that was obtained using this contact lens had a high correlation with the intraocular pressure measured by a rebound tonometer, thereby proving the good accuracy of the contact lens sensor. In the initial period, a slight elevation of intraocular pressure was observed, but the pressure returned to normal in the initial period after the transplantation. This type of monitoring will provide important information on potential changes in the intraocular pressure associated with the transplantation procedure, and it enables appropriate clinical safety steps to be taken, if needed.