Stanford Researchers Make Discovery That Could Lead to More Comfortable Contact Lenses

And they’re developing a machine that could make such lenses.

A recent study conducted by Stanford University researchers may have unlocked the secret to designing more comfortable contact lenses, as it led to the discovery of “mechanical properties of the tear film on the eye’s surface that can be used to manufacture contact lenses that more closely mimic the eye,” according to a report on Stanford.edu. The article says the research specifically focused on how the lipid layer of the tear film protects the eye’s surface, and by designing a contact lens “mimicking the lipid layer in contact construction, millions of people could avoid ocular discomfort.”

The researchers are also developing a machine that can make such contact lenses. The machine would “recreate a tear film on the contact lens surface and test how quickly it breaks up,” giving manufacturers “the tools to make a more comfortable lens that protects users from the painful side effects of wearing contacts.” The writer does a nice job explaining the science of everything, if you’re interested.

Read more at Stanford.edu