Contact lenses that gradually release drugs right into the eyes are a great alternative to drops. Lenses solve the problem of drug delivery to the retina, writes Medical Express. Typically, injections are required to treat diseases affecting the retina. And this causes fear in many patients, which interferes with therapy.
But the lenses that emit dexamethasone (relieves inflammation) are distinguished by their convenience and ease of use. Lens tests were performed on animals with uveitis and macular edema. It turned out that the lenses guaranteed a constant release of the drug into the retina for a week.
In fact, with lenses, it was possible to achieve a concentration that is 200 times higher than the indicators that are observed when instilling drops every hour. And in terms of effectiveness, the lenses were quite comparable to injections, in terms of preventing retinal damage. Scientists are about to begin clinical trials soon.