Blog

June 18, 2015April 24, 2018

Google Patents Biometric Contact Lens

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, Google has been awarded a patent on several designs and implementations of contact lenses capable of scanning the wearer’s iris and using it as a biometric “fingerprint”.

One of the patented contact lens designs includes multiple sensors that measure the light filtered through the iris, circuitry which can communicate with remote devices, and a power source. This information would be used for the purposes of authentication and identification.

Iris recognition scans are considered by security experts to be more accurate and difficult to fake than fingerprints, but current iris scanning technology is unable to distinguish a real eye from a high quality photograph.

Further information: http://www.healio.com/optometry/contact-lenses-eye-wear/news/online/%7Bc8f5d97a-d495-4c2a-a4e1-a2e978102b4e%7D/google-patents-contact-lenses-with-iris-scanning-technology/

June 17, 2015April 24, 2018

Drug Delivering Contact Lenses Improve with UV-blocking

Researchers at the University of Florida, found that UV-blocking contact lenses protected photosensitive drugs from degrading and showed that contact lenses could be an effective way to deliver photosensitive extended-release drugs.

The research team loaded UV-blocking and non-UV-blocking contact lenses with dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid medication that is sensitive to UV light, and measured the amount of drug which remained after exposing the contact lenses to a UV lamp.

After 20 hours less than 1% of the dexamethasone in the UV-blocking lens had degraded, compared to 85% degradation in the regular contact lens. A third contact lens loaded with vitamin E, which has UV-absorbing properties, had 30% of the drug degraded. While the results suggest that both UV-blocking lenses and Vitamin E prevent degradation, the UV-blocking lenses did so more effectively. The researchers point out, however, that Vitamin E also improves drug stability and release profile.

Further information: http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/Abstract/publishahead/Photoprotection_and_Extended_Drug_Delivery_by_UV.98710.aspx

June 15, 2015April 24, 2018

UWaterloo Researcher Warns Inappropriately Applied Eyeliner Causes Vision Problems

A study completed by Dr. Alison Ng while at Cardiff University found that eyeliner applied to the inner eyelid can contaminate the tear film and may cause vision problems including irritation, blurred vision and infection.

The research team observed that after just five minutes glitter eyeliner applied to the inner lid margin resulted in 15 to 30% more particles in the tear film than when makeup is applied outside the lash line only.

The waxes, oils, silicones and natural gums present in makeup can cause redness and discomfort when they enter the tear film, particularly for contact lens wearers, but the greater concern is that old makeup harbouring bacteria can lead to infections. Dr. Ng, now a fellow at the University of Waterloo, recommends, “If you thoroughly sharpen your pencil eyeliner before each application and get rid of the stuff that’s stuck to the end, you’ll have a fresh tip which can help prevent infection. With a twist-up eyeliner, cut some off the end before each use.”

Further information: https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/study-finds-eyeliner-application-may-cause-eye-problems

June 12, 2015April 24, 2018

Seeing the World in Black and White

Researchers at University of California San Diego have identified a gene mutation responsible for achromatopsia, a disorder where malformed proteins in the retina’s cone photoreceptors restrict patients to viewing the world in black and white. Patients suffering from achromatopsia also experience reduced visual acuity and sensitivity to bright light, requiring tinted lenses indoors and outdoors, and in severe cases are legally blind.

Congenital achromatopsia is an uncommon inherited disorder that can afflict entire families. There are five genetic mutations known to cause achromatopsia, though cases arose where none of the known mutations were present, leading scientists to suspect that other genes were involved. The research team analyzed the gene sequences of 18 patients from 10 different families that lacked the previously discovered mutations and discovered that all 18 patients had a mutation in the ATF6 gene.

Dr. Jonathan Lin, senior author of the study, said this finding offered the possibility of treating achromatopsia, which currently has no cure, through gene therapy. The ATF6 mutation may be related to other dysfunctions of the cone receptor, such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

Further Information: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.3319.html

June 11, 2015April 24, 2018

Marcolin and Iconix Brand Group Renew Licensing Agreement for Candie’s, Bongo and Rampage Eyewear

Marcolin SpA and Iconix Brand Group are proud to have extended their licensing agreement for the design, production and distribution of the eyewear collections of sunglasses and optical frames for Candie’s, Bongo and Rampage brands. These renewals extend the partnership until 2020. Initially launched through licensing partnerships with former and acquired Viva International Group in 2008, the relationship is now managed by Marcolin USA.