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Glaucoma is a progressive deterioration of the optic nerve associated
with increased intraocular pressure (IOP). If glaucoma is left
untreated, it leads to a gradual loss of vision and possibly total
blindness. Worldwide, about 67 million people have visual impairment
from glaucoma, with 7 million suffering from blindness.
There is a variety of effective treatments if glaucoma is detected
in its early stages. The Glaucoma therapy aims to avoid progression
of the disease and therewith to maintain the optic nerve. Therefore
Glaucoma is either treated with regular medication or by laser
or conventional surgery for the purpose of pressure control inside
the eye. However continuous monitoring of the eye pressure is
required even during every day life conditions of the patient.
CMT develops an implantable highly miniaturized pressure sensor
which is powered wirelessly from outside and transmits the eye
pressure to an external device. The pressure sensor might be integrated
into an artificial lens which commonly replaces the natural lens
in cataract disease. Many cataract patients have co-existing glaucoma
disease. Alternatively the pressure sensor may be implanted as
stand-alone device.
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