Researchers have developed a novel contact lens that contains lubricant-producing bacteria, offering a potential solution for the dry eye issues that plague many contact lens wearers.1
Around 9% of people who stop wearing contact lenses cite dry eye as the reason.2 Current lenses embedded with the lubricant hyaluronic acid provide only temporary relief as manufacturers can only add a small amount of lubricant before it starts to affect the optics of the lens.
The self-lubricating lenses under development feature a community of engineered bacteria in the rim that continuously secretes hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricant. This allows the lenses to self-renew their lubricated surface for weeks at a time without relying on eye drops.
“The self-renewal properties of the contact lens surface provides permanent lubrication despite continuous clearance of lubricant by tear fluid,” said Dr Aránzazu del Campo, the lead researcher from the INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Germany.
The harmless soil bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum was genetically modified to produce hyaluronic acid. It obtains nutrients from simulated tear fluid or overnight lens solution to fuel lubricant production.
Although the technology is promising for dry eye sufferers, concerns have been raised about having live bacteria in the eye and the study author acknowledged the need for further research before commercialisation.
Consumer acceptance may also be a hurdle, but the self-lubricating lenses could be a long-awaited breakthrough for those struggling with contact lens discomfort.
References
- del Campo, A., et al., Self-lubricating, living contact lenses, Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313848.
- Pucker, A.D., and Tichenor, A.A., A review of contact lens dropout (2020), Clinical Optometry, 85-94, DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S198637
