Telescopic contact lenses may offer improved vision for AMD

Wednesday, March 4 2015 | 00 h 00 min | Vision Science

Swiss researchers have developed a prototype telescopic contact lens that could improve vision for those suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Thin aluminum mirrors and polarized films within a rigid scleral contact lens offer the wearer a magnification of 2.8 times, about the same as low-powered binoculars.

To make the lens breathable many microscopic channels within the lens allow oxygen to reach the cornea.

The magnification can be turned on or off by winking, which sends a signal to a pair of “smart” glasses that can change their polarization.

The U.S. Department of Defence-funded project, headed by Eric Tremblay of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Joe Ford of UC San Diego, was originally developed to improve the vision of soldiers on the battlefield, but could also restore the ability to see fine details for people with low vision.

For further information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150213145049.htm