Page 129 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition March-April 2021
P. 129
EYE CARE AMID COVID 19: ALL of Engineering Science and
Mechanics (ESM).
YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cheng’s paper published
The psycho-social impact subsequent lockdown, and in Microsystems &
of COVID-19 is affecting the scare of the second wave Nanoengineering explains how
a new micro- and nano-device
the mental health of many amongst their top reasons for technology could revolutionise
people. But there are other missing their appointment. the way health conditions are
hidden, seemingly avoidable Another reason behind the monitored and treated.
health issues that can lead deteriorating ocular health of
to irreparable damages if people at large is increased “We sought to create a
neglected. One such issue that screen time. People working device that collects both
needs special mention is ocular from home are spending way small and large substances
health. Eye diseases are often too much time on screens of biofluids such as tears and
present silently, be it glaucoma than they previously did. Being saliva, which can be analysed
or diabetic retinopathy. connected for almost 12-16 for certain conditions on a
All eye OPDs are now seeing hours a day definitely comes rapid, continuous basis, rather
a sudden surge of patients with a set of perils. Crumbling than waiting on test results
coming with advanced stages sleeping patterns have also from samples in a lab,” he said.
of cataract, loss in vision due added to the woes of the The sensors would be placed
to glaucoma, or even with patients. near the tear duct or mouth to
severe bleeds inside the eye. WHAT TO DO? collect samples, which would
The pitfall is that patients are then produce data viewable on
landing up with irreversible Patients must understand a user's smartphone or sent to
vision losses and increased that caregivers are taking their doctor, explained Cheng.
probabilities of complicated all necessary precautions
surgeries and procedures. to ensure that the safety of The tears- and saliva-sensing
People are readily ignoring the patients does not get technology can help manage
ominous symptoms and signs compromised under any diseases like oral ulcers, oral
such as red-eye, blurred vision, circumstances. Hospitals cancer, eye wrinkles and
or floaters and even tolerating that are accepting COVID eye infections like keratitis –
pains and photosensitivity. patients have segregated and inflammation of the clear tissue
It only gets worse when isolated the section of the on the front of the eye.
they try to treat them with hospital where they are being
home remedies or even self- treated. Therefore, do not delay He further clarified that the
medication. treatment. new device not only collects
data but also administers
Ophthalmologists across Source: The above article is medicine with a microneedle
the globe have witnessed a dip penned by Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, through the skin around the
of approximately 30 per cent managing director, Centre for eye, mouth or tongue. “Through
Sight, New Delhi, for The Indian
in their regular patients who Express. nano- to micro-steel ports on
have cited the pandemic, the the device, we can probe the
cell to deliver molecular drugs
for treatment in a very efficient
B
B
E
R
A
W
WEARABLE SENSOR FOR PATIENTS process at the cellular level,”
F
W
Cheng said.
W
WITH EYE OR MOUTH DISEASE
W H E M H
E
The researchers are
developing working prototypes
and are in talks with local
A A new kind of wearable diseases, according to Huanyu manufacturers as well as the
health device is expected to 'Larry' Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle National Institutes of Health
deliver real-time medical data Career Development Professor and Amazon for manufacturing
to those with eye or mouth in the Penn State Department the device on a large scale.
| MAR-APR 2021 | 125 NEWS IN BRIEF
Mar-Apr 2021 SK News.indd 9 27-04-2021 15:47
