Conceptual design considerations for a wireless intraocular pressure sensor system for effective glaucoma management

Abstract

As a leading form of preventable visual impairment, it is imperative to assess glaucoma treatment as a function of intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP can spike throughout the day. This necessitates a device that can (1) monitor IOP outside of clinical visits by providing a memory when IOP exceeds a set threshold indicating the possibility for glaucomatous damage to occur; and (2) accurately assess IOP. Both requirements point ultimately towards the development of an implantable device. The Wireless Intraocular Pressure Sensor System (WIPSS) devised by our team uses optical technologies and may assist an overseeing clinician with assessing glaucoma treatment efficacy and avoiding irreversible glaucomatous visual field loss downstream.

Keywords:

• Intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes
• irreversible visual field loss
• glaucoma management
• implantable wireless sensor
• external reader systems

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Runzhi Zhang and Anthony Palumbo for providing the sensor schematic and the SEM images of CNTs.

Disclosure statement

The authors WF, EHY, and TG may have a financial interest in the technologies presented here as three patents on behalf of Caltech have been issued. Authors SB and ANZ have no financial interest in the technology presented.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by Bausch & Lomb and by the Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowment at the University of Arizona.