The FINANCIAL — By applying electrically conductive, antibiotic nanosilver particles to contact lenses, researchers at the University of California, Davis, can continuously map the pressure inside a human eye while administering medication directly and painlessly into it.
The new lenses promise to advance understanding of diseases like glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and could save the eyesight of millions, say the researchers.
"It would be really helpful to measure the pressure inside the eye continuously," said Tingrui Pan, a professor at the University of California, Davis, and co-author of a paper describing the lenses in Advanced Functional Materials.
Pressure inside the eye, the leading indication of glaucoma, can vary widely from day to day, even minute to minute. Currently, doctors only measure pressure every few months (depending on the patient), said James Brandt, a physician at UC Davis who is involved in the research.
"Compare that to another chronic disease like diabetes, where we can have blood sugar measurements several times a day," he added.
Right now the contact lenses, made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are a close cousin to modern-day contact lenses. They have an eight-by-eight grid nanosilver lines that provide 64 pressure points. Each point independently monitors eye pressure and relays information to a computer that records the pressure inside the eye.
Unemployed Hope Plastic Surgery Leads to New Job
Source: WBIR.com
As we hit hard economic times and unemployment rates rise, many people are cutting back on extra expenses like eating out and buying new clothes. But many cosmetic surgeons are reporting an increase in business over the past few months.
Like many people in this country, Sarah Spencer is currently unemployed. "It doesn't feel good and then you have the dreaded task of looking for another job," said Spencer. But while this 43-year-old looks for a new job, she's also using this down time to get a new look. She recently had cosmetic laser surgery on her neck. "I went in to have rejuvenation and sun spots removed and tightening of the skin," said Spencer.
Sarah's not alone. Dermatologist Dr. Mathew Avram says he's seeing a new type of patient: the unemployed. "Contrary to our expectations we've become busier about 20-percent more busy in the past year as the economy has deteriorated," said Avram. Patients undergoing cosmetic procedures like laser treatments, facial fillers and botox.
So why spend the money when you're without a job? Some say they have more time for recovery. Cosmetic eye surgeon Daniel Townsend says it gives job hunters an edge in a youth oriented society especially for those in the 35 to 65 age group. "There's a lot of women and men in that age group that would like to look good, to look refreshed, they would like to look age appropriate so that they can compete for those jobs that they want to have," said Townsend. An investment for some who hope it will pay off by hearing the words "You're hired". And some people are using their severance pay to fund their treatments.
Discussion about this post