INNOVATION |
IOP MONITOR
New Transmitter Device Enables Patients to Monitor IOP by Andrew Sweeney
A
ccording to entrepreneur and potential James Bond Villain Elon Musk, you are already a cyborg . . . have you not noticed? Granted you might not have cables and computers installed directly into your brain, but you do have a powerful device attached to your hand. Smartphones, for many of us, govern almost every aspect of our life. This is not usually what people have in mind when they think of cyborgs, preferring to fall back on science fiction characters like Darth Vader. Musk raises an interesting point however: We are so dependent on technology that we are in many ways cyborg in nature. Whether or not that is unsettling is beside the point, and cyborg-eque devices are becoming big business.
26
You are not a robot … but we are getting closer This is especially true in the biomedical sphere, where developments like implants, mobile apps and wearable devices are revolutionizing patient treatment and management. Items like Fitbits have been around for a few years and they are considerably improving in quality and efficacy. Implants represent the most exciting aspect of this development and also hold the greatest promise for the optometry industry. Some might say that contact lenses are the original implants, despite their temporary character. Now, of course, we are more familiar with eyelid and corneal implants, bio-integrations and prosthetic eyes, as well as glaucoma drainage implants designed to improve aqueous flow. Indeed, while many
| October 2020
eye conditions are now being treated or managed with implants, glaucoma stands out as a particularly promising field. Glaucoma is characterized by a high level of intraocular pressure (IOP) — and although it’s not the sole cause of the condition, it is a significant risk factor. The ability to mitigate and manage IOP in high-risk patients is therefore important, especially as glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. A group of researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, recently announced a significant development in this area. A group of four researchers from the University’s electrical and computer engineering department have developed a 2.4GHz ultra-low power, energy-
