The aim of this project is to demonstrate the application of nanotechnology in ophthalmology through the use of holographic nanostructures on low-cost commercial contact lenses. The nanostructures will allow for a visual method of monitoring the physical changes induced by the diseases on the ocular surface. Diseases, such as Glaucoma and Keratoconus, have measurable symptoms but at a small scale. The disease’s presence may not be visually apparent to an onlooker or the patient themselves until the latter stages, at which point irreversible damage to the retinal nerve may have occurred causing permanent or partial vision loss.
The proposed nanotextured contact lenses are expected to change color as the disease progresses, allowing continuous monitoring of the condition and various other parameters on the complex ocular surface. Such lenses would appeal to patients with a family history of Glaucoma, Keratoconus, or other ophthalmic conditions that lead to eye curvature changes. These contact lenses will act as a preventative means, alerting the wearer who would self-monitor their condition, regulate their drug usage, and seek medical advice when the apparent color changes occur.
