- A temperature-sensitive glue has been developed to temporarily seal penetrating eye injuries
- The gel appeared to be safe, as well as, effective when tested on rabbits
- Clinical studies on the gel, if successful, will provide a first-aid option for soldiers as well as to people in areas inaccessible to specialized eye care
Scientists have developed and tested a gel in rabbits that can temporarily seal eye injuries till adequate facilities for surgery are available. Their research was published in the Science Translational Medicine.
The newly developed gel has some unique properties that make it ideal to be used for eye injuries:
- The hydrogel consists of physically cross-linked N-isopropylacrylamide copolymerized with butyl acrylate
- The gel is temperature sensitive. It becomes a liquid when it is cooled and a semi-solid at a higher temperature like that on the eye. Thus, it changes from a liquid to a super-strong semi-solid when applied to the eye.
- The semi-solid seal can be removed simply by irrigating it with cool water when access to specialized eye care is available.
- The gel was easy to use
- The pressure within the eye improved, thereby reducing the chances of retinal detachment. The retina is the light-sensitive inner layer of the eye
- There was a statistically significant improvement in would sealing
- The gel appeared to be safe with no signs of nerve damage or degradation of the retina
- The eyes did not show any infection or inflammation for up to 4 weeks following the application
Currently, the gel has yet to undergo clinical trials before it can be used for the purpose.
About Eye Injuries
Eye injuries are a common problem. Injuries could be due to acids or other chemicals, solar damage caused by excessive staring at the sun, or a physical trauma due to a blow or the penetration of a sharp object. Fireworks lit without proper precautions are also a common cause of eye damage. Lacerations of the cornea can be particularly serious since they can interfere with vision. Full thickness injuries to the eye could result in a drop of eye pressure and detachment of the retina, which could result in blindness.Reference :
- Bayat N et al. A reversible thermoresponsive sealant for temporary closure of ocular trauma. Science Translational Medicine 2017: Vol. 9, Issue 419, eaan3879 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan3879
Citations
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APA
Simi Paknikar. (2017, December 07). Temperature-sensitive Hydrogel Developed to Fix Eye Injuries. Medindia. Retrieved on May 24, 2022 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/gel-to-fix-eye-injuries-175310-1.htm.
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MLA
Simi Paknikar. "Temperature-sensitive Hydrogel Developed to Fix Eye Injuries". Medindia. May 24, 2022. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/gel-to-fix-eye-injuries-175310-1.htm>.
Chicago
Simi Paknikar. "Temperature-sensitive Hydrogel Developed to Fix Eye Injuries". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/gel-to-fix-eye-injuries-175310-1.htm. (accessed May 24, 2022).
Harvard
Simi Paknikar. 2021. Temperature-sensitive Hydrogel Developed to Fix Eye Injuries. Medindia, viewed May 24, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/gel-to-fix-eye-injuries-175310-1.htm.