New vision in polymers

Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research are developing new high-performance polymer materials to create ultra-thin, flexible eye implants for cataract sufferers.

The German team said lenses made from the materials could be folded during cataract replacement surgery and inserted through smaller incisions, making the procedure far less invasive.

Cataracts, caused by the slow crystallising of proteins, are one of the most common eye problems, generally appearing after the age of 50. Symptoms include clouded vision or higher sensitivity to glare. Conventionally, surgeons destroy a clouded lens with an ultrasound instrument, vacuum it out and replace it with a plastic lens.

The current incision needed for the procedure is 3mm, but researchers hope to reduce this to 1.5mm, removing the need for post-operative stitching, because the smaller wound would naturally heal itself. This could transform cataract replacement into an outpatient procedure.

However, there are no intraocular (within the eyeball) lenses available for implant at this scale of surgery, hence the need for the new polymers.