High-sensitivity liquid-metal-based contact lens sensor for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a crucial physiological indicator for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. The current infrequent IOP measurement during an office visit is insufficient to characterize the symptoms. Here, an LC resonator strain sensor in a contact lens, composed of a stretchable inductance coil using liquid metal and a chip capacitor, was developed for real-time IOP monitoring. The lens sensor was operated on the basis of 'mechanical-electrical' principle. The rising IOP will increase the curvature radius of the cornea and stretch the inductance coils through the cornea and tear film, leading to a decrease in resonant frequency. The theoretical model of the whole process has been established and explored. The sensor has been scientifically designed and fabricated to be ultra-soft, comfortable, safe without leakage and has a stable signal. The sensor was calibrated on two silicone rubber model eyeballs, respectively, showing linear and stable responses. An experiment on porcine eyes in vitro was conducted. The sensor can track IOP changes and shows much higher sensitivity than the current mainstream lens sensors, which is even an order of magnitude higher than the existing inductive sensor. The high-sensitivity and ultra-flexible liquid-metal-based lens sensor is a promising approach for 24 h continuous IOP monitoring in clinics. (paper)