Intraocular Pressure Monitoring Microfluidic Contact Lens

The proposed research project is to design a microfluidic contact lens that will be used to track the fluctuations in intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is the primary factor to monitor the progression of glaucoma, which is a chronic disease that leads to permanent vision loss and currently has no cure, making early and frequent testing essential. By utilizing microfluidic channels embedded into a soft contact lens, the changes in corneal curvature can be captured and the intraocular pressure can be determined, as it is directly proportional. This device will track the pressure more frequently, non-invasively and inexpensively. As the contact lens mimics the increasing change in shape to the eye, the embedded microfluidic channel will increase in volume and an indicator fluid will shift in position. Thus, tracking the shift in position of the indicator fluid within the microfluidic contact lens can directly determine the fluctuations in intraocular pressure.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yongjun Lai

Student:

Angelica Campigotto

Partner:

Incubate Innovate Network of Canada

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Queen's University