08/1 Intracorneal Inlays for treatment of presbyopia

		Cross-section of the cornea showing normal cell metabolism. In this project we will investigate what happens when a contact-lens is placed in the centre of the stroma.

Presbyopia is the gradual decline in the ability of the lens to accommodate for clear near vision, and is a condition affecting nearly everyone above 40. Eye doctors disagree about what causes it; most believe it is caused either by stiffening of the eye's lens, continued growth of the lens or atrophy of the muscles controlling the lens. To date, treatment for presbyopia have included reading, or bifocal glasses and monovison (one eye is adjusted for distance vision and one for near vision) or bifocal contact lenses.

Currently, most of the surgical procedures are still in investigational stages. There are no approved surgical devices or procedure to be specifically used as a refractive solution for presbyopia. Insertion of an intracorneal inlay under a flap to achieve corneal multifocality is under clinical investigation but unresolved issues related to corneal metabolism, wound healing, inlay opacification, and inaccurate or unstable positioning need to be resolved.

Although the effects of nutrient transport with implantable contact lenses are thought to be severe, no published study has attempted to assess the effect of altered corneal metabolism. In this project, multi-physics finite element analysis (to capture transient nutrient transport and concomitant edema) will be used in conjunction with in-vitro experimental techniques to determine

• the effect of altered corneal metabolism caused by an intracorneal implant,
  
• the required transport performance of lens material,
  
• the optimal depth-placement of an intracorneal lens.