Scientists Develop Contact Lenses That Provide a Continuous Supply of Anesthetic for Laser Eye Surgery Patients

Scientists have developed contact lenses that can provide extended release anesthetic medication to the eyes of patients who undergo laser eye surgery, according to a news release.

Patients undergoing photorefractive keratectomy — an alternative to LASIK — have to place medicated drops in their eyes every few hours for a few days. Patients receive a "bandage contact lens" after surgery to help the outer layer of the eye heal. Researchers added vitamin E to the lenses to test whether anesthetics loaded in to the lens could release the drugs over time. They found the vitamin E extended the time of release for three commonly used anesthetics from less than two hours to a few days in some cases.

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