Scientific and technical breakthroughs are advancing vision correction to amazing new heights. Reports by the American Optometric Association show some of the current developments in improving vision and treating diseases of the eye.

Stem cells

Ocular transplantation of stem cells is expected to help patients with retinal and optic nerve conditions. It is hoped that stem cells can be used to regrow retinal or optic nerve tissue lost to degenerative diseases including Stargardt Disease, dry age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Low vision video glasses

Patients who rely on spectacle-mounted magnifiers or miniature telescopes may soon benefit from advances in video magnification. Glasses are being developed that superimpose a simplified video image over the wearer’s vision. This method would not replace lost vision, but rather give the wearer increased spatial awareness.

Smart contact lenses

Google, Inc. and the pharmaceutical company Novartis want to produce glucose-monitoring smart lenses and expect to produce a prototype by 2015. Other contact lens applications could include prescription drug secreting lenses, blood sugar monitoring lenses with LED warning lights and intraocular pressure monitoring lenses.

Antimicrobial-coated contact lenses

Eye infections are a rare but potentially serious issue for contact lens wearers. The use of melimine as an antimicrobial coating for biomaterials is currently being explored. Because it is heat stable, wettable, nontoxic and would not change lens dimensions, the coating has great potential for this application.

Ask your eye care professional about advances in vision correction. What was impossible yesterday may be possible today.