A new artificial eye lens created using the same material found in smartphone and TV screens could restore sight.
University of Leeds researcher Devesh Mistry is developing an adjustable artificial lens capable of correcting long-sightedness using liquid crystal.
The postgraduate research student explained: “As we get older, the lens in our eye stiffens, when the muscles in the eye contract they can no longer shape the lens to bring close objects into focus.
“Using liquid crystals, which we probably know better as the material used in the screens of TVs and smartphones, lenses would adjust and focus automatically, depending on the eye muscles’ movement.”
Mistry is developing a new generation of synthetic lenses to rejuvenate sight and aims to have a prototype ready by 2018.
It is hoped that the artificial lenses could be ready for use in patients within a decade and would be fitted using quick surgical procedure under local anaesthetic.
The lenses could also be used to in tackling cataracts.
Image credit: University of Leeds
