Contact Lens Headlines
Date: May 29, 2009 // Author: Laura JohansenA new company called Eyenovations in Cambridge, MA, is developing a contact lens designed to continuously release medication to the eye. The contacts would be a great alternative for glaucoma patients, who often use medicated eye drops multiple times each day. The company also believes the lenses could deliver antibiotics after eye surgery, as well as help treat several other eye conditions such as dry eye.
The concept of medicated contacts has been explored by other research groups, but they were unsuccessful in achieving extended release of the drugs. The Eyenovations team discovered how to deliver high doses of medication for up to 100 days. The hydrogel lenses have a polymer film that contains the medication, and the film and lens properties control the release rate of the medication from the contact.
The company is patenting the process and plans to develop a commercial lens that delivers drugs for up to 30 days, which is the limit for single-use contacts determined by the Food and Drug Administration. Clinical tests are expected to be under way soon.
Tags: Dry Eye, Therapeutic Contacts
