Wearable smart sensor systems integrated on soft contact lenses for wireless ocular diagnostics

TLDR

Wearable contact lenses can monitor physiological parameters directly from body fluids, yet existing sensors are single‑analyte and obstruct vision. The authors aimed to create a multifunctional contact lens sensor that overcomes these limitations by integrating it onto a standard ocular lens. The device monitors tear glucose and intraocular pressure by measuring resistance and capacitance changes in the embedded electronics. In vivo and in vitro tests on rabbit and bovine eyes confirmed reliable operation, demonstrating simultaneous yet independent measurement of tear glucose and intraocular pressure.

Abstract

Abstract Wearable contact lenses which can monitor physiological parameters have attracted substantial interests due to the capability of direct detection of biomarkers contained in body fluids. However, previously reported contact lens sensors can only monitor a single analyte at a time. Furthermore, such ocular contact lenses generally obstruct the field of vision of the subject. Here, we developed a multifunctional contact lens sensor that alleviates some of these limitations since it was developed on an actual ocular contact lens. It was also designed to monitor glucose within tears, as well as intraocular pressure using the resistance and capacitance of the electronic device. Furthermore, in-vivo and in-vitro tests using a live rabbit and bovine eyeball demonstrated its reliable operation. Our developed contact lens sensor can measure the glucose level in tear fluid and intraocular pressure simultaneously but yet independently based on different electrical responses.