A contact lens that can release a drug if it detects high pressure within the eye has been created by scientists who say it could help treat glaucoma.
科学家创造了一种隐形眼镜，当它测试到眼压升高时，就会释放药物。科学家宣称这种隐性眼镜可辅助治疗青光眼。
Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve, and can lead to blindness if not treated.
青光眼是一种损害视神经的眼病，如不治疗可能致使失明。
According to the charity Glaucoma UK, the most common form of the disease, known as primary open angle glaucoma, is thought to affect almost 10% of people older than 75. This form is generally caused by increased pressure within the eye, usually as a result of a buildup of fluid.
据英国青光眼慈善机构称，原发性开角型青光眼是最容易见到的一种青光眼疾病，近10%的75岁以上人群患有该眼病。原发性开角型青光眼一般是由眼内重压增加引起的。眼压升高一般是由液体积聚导致的。
Researchers in China revealed they have developed a contact lens that can sense an increase in pressure within the eye and release an anti-glaucoma drug should the pressure exceed a certain level.
中国科研职员表示，他们已经研制出一种隐形眼镜，可以感知眼压的升高，并在重压超越肯定水平常释放抗青光眼药物。
Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the team describe how they created the device using an upper and lower lens, with a snowflake-shaped pressure sensor and wireless power transfer device sandwiched between them around the rim of the lenses.
该团队在《自然通讯》杂志上发表文章，描述了他们怎么样借助上下两块镜片创造出这个设施的，在两块镜片之间的边缘夹着雪花状重压传感器和无线电力传输装置。
When the pressure inside the eye increases, the gap between the upper and lower lenses decreases. This is detected by the pressure sensor by means of a cantilever. The sensor then sends a signal to the wireless system which subsequently triggers the release of an anti-glaucoma drug, from a hydrogel attached to an electrode, and enables it to cross the cornea of the eye. The drug, brimonidine, acts to reduce the pressure within the eye.
当眼内重压增加时，上下镜片之间的间隙就会降低。重压传感器通过一个悬臂测试到这一点。然后，该传感器向无线系统发送信号，随后触发抗青光眼药物的释放，并使其穿过眼角膜。该药物来自连接到电极的水凝胶，名为溴硝柳胺，可以减少眼压。
The study reveals that the contact lenses have so far been tested on pigs’ eyes and on the eyes of living rabbits – albeit with smaller-sized lenses – although trials have yet to be carried out in humans.
这项研究表明，尽管隐形眼镜的尺寸较小，但现在为止已经在猪的双眼和活兔子的双眼上进行了测试，尚没有进行人体试验。
The researchers note the lenses are not only soft and minimally invasive but are also battery-free, adding that the approach could be expanded to help tackle other eye diseases.
研究职员指出，这种镜片不只柔软、无创，而且不需要电池，这种办法可以扩展到辅助治疗其他眼部疾病。
Prof Zubair Ahmed from the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the university of Birmingham, who was not involved in the work, said the research was potentially very exciting, adding that a rise in pressure within the eye was a significant problem for most people with glaucoma.
伯明翰大学炎症与衰老研究所的祖拜尔·阿赫默德教授没参与这项研究，他称这项研究成就激动人心，眼压升高对大部分青光眼病人来讲是一个紧急问题。
“The materials required to create such contact lenses are inexpensive and soon could be mass-produced,” he added.
阿赫默德还称：“制造这种隐形眼镜所需的材料价格低廉，非常快就能大规模生产。”
来源：卫报
编辑：董静
