Permanent Contact Lenses

描述(申请人提供)：据估计，全球有23亿人患有近视、远视和散光等屈光不正。虽然眼镜、传统隐形眼镜和激光手术矫正能够充分治疗大多数受影响的人群，但它们也不是没有自己的并发症和问题。用生物集成永久隐形眼镜增强天然角膜将提供屈光矫正，其安全性和便利性是目前市场上的产品无法达到的。生物集成永久隐形眼镜的优点包括：1)快速植入，双眼植入时间可能不超过20分钟，不需要切除任何基质组织；2)具有可逆性和可调性。隐形眼镜虽然被描述为“永久性的”，但仍然可以在必要时通过将其从Bowman膜上剥离来移除和更换，从而允许在必要时进行矫正调整。3)对感染的抵抗力更强，因为隐形眼镜不需要频繁的手动操作，并被上皮覆盖，上皮是人体的第一道免疫防线。4)潜在地降低了患者的成本。这种隐形眼镜可以持续一生，不需要像LASIK那样使用昂贵的激光。KeraMed公司开发了一种新型永久性隐形眼镜，该隐形眼镜设计容易植入，并且与生物兼容。我们的目标是通过体外和体内动物实验来测试永久隐形眼镜的生物相容性和固位性。如果我们的项目成功，我们将朝着改善人类视力和生活质量迈出重要的一步。公共卫生意义：我们正在开发一种永久性隐形眼镜，可以安全快速地植入矫正屈光不正。这种“永久性”隐形眼镜的设计也是为了在必要时可拆卸和更换。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): An estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide suffer from refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. While glasses, traditional contact lenses, and laser surgical correction are capable of adequately treating a majority of the afflicted population, they are not without their own complications and problems. Augmentation of the natural cornea with a bio-integrated permanent contact lens would provide refractive correction with a level of safety and convenience unachievable by currently marketed products. Advantages of a bio-integrated permanent contact lens would include: 1) Implantation by a quick procedure, probably less than 20 minutes for both eyes, which does not require the removal of any stromal tissue 2) Potential for reversibility and adjustment. The contact lens although it is described as "permanent" can still be removed and replaced if necessary by peeling it away from Bowman's membrane, thus allowing adjustments in correction if necessary. 3) Greater resistance to infection because the contact lens does not require frequent manual manipulation and is covered by epithelium, the body's first line of immune defense. 4) Potentially lower cost for the patient. The contact lens could last a lifetime and does not require the use of expensive lasers as in the case of LASIK. KeraMed Inc. has developed a novel permanent contact lens which is designed to be easily implantable and bio-compatible. Our goal is to test the biocompatibility and retention of permanent contact lenses through both in vitro and vivo animal experiments. If our project is successful, we will have made a significant step towards improving human vision and quality of life. PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNFICANCE: We are developing a permanent contact lens which can be implanted safely and quickly for the correction of refractive errors. This "permanent" contact lens is also designed to be removable and replaceable if necessary.