by Joel Harrison
31. October 2011 10:34
Because of the fact that – in spite of the progress that has been made in the area of contact lenses materials – there are still a number of people who stop wearing contact lenses due to discomfort, researchers have started to place a great emphasis on the biocompatibility of polymers (of which modern contact lenses are made) with the eye.
According to Dr Roderick W.J. Bowers, an expert in the area of contact lens materials, biocompatibility is still not fully understood, despite decades of research. Contact lenses are recognised by the eye as a foreign body, and an appropriate response begins when a lens is inserted (certain biomolecules, such as lipids, proteins, immunoglobulins bind at the surface of the lens). In this respect, contact lenses resemble other medical devices, like stents or urinary catheters.
In Dr Bowers’s opinion, biomimetic materials (e.g. phosphorylcholine) will allow researchers to develop contact lens materials offering much better comfort thanks to their increased resistance to deposits.
Subscribe