The POSTECH Research Team, in collaboration with PHI BIOMED COMPANY, has created a wearable device in the form of an eye contact lens that helps prevent and treat early-stage diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the problems caused by diabetes in advanced cases. And this problem may affect vision, and may reach complete blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is treated with direct injection into the eye, laser burning or surgical intervention. Therefore, an easy technique that is not painful or uncomfortable is likely to be the preferred option for diabetic retinopathy in particular and diabetics in general.

Contact lens technology is based on shining light from

 Light Emitting Diode (LED) with a power of 120µW, near infrared, on the retina of the eye. The dose of light can be controlled remotely. Experiments on laboratory rabbits have proven the effectiveness of this technique without negatively affecting the cornea of the eye, provided that the specified dose is followed for the specified period of time. 

A dose of 120µW administered for 15 minutes three times weekly was effective in preventing retinopathy in diabetic rabbits.

It is worth noting that the use of contact lenses for follow-up and treatment has become what calls for the attention of scientists, to monitor the levels of sugar and the level of pressure in the eye.

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