Loss of human amplitude of accommodation over the years and artificial accommodation system with active-optical subsystem in the capsular bag (courtesy of KIT)
The decreasing accommodation ability of the eye with increasing age (presbyopia / presbyopia) can be compensated by visual aids. In case of additional lens opacity (cataract), the removal of the lens and the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) are necessary.
The new approach to solve this problem pursued in the BMBF-funded project “Akkosys” is a smart microsystem that is implanted in the capsular bag of the eye instead of an intraocular lens.
Working autonomously, this microsystem is designed to adjust the focus of an integrated active optical element according to accommodation needs. The change in focus will be accomplished by shifting the moving lens of a three-lens system (triple optics).
To detect the accommodation demand, the so-called pupil near reflex has to be measured. For this purpose, the CiS Research Institute is currently developing an optical sensor system that measures the pupil diameter and simultaneously the total brightness. From these signals, input control variables are derived for the actuator-based lens system.
Network partners and participating institutions are:
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Institute for Applied Computer Science
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institute for Applied Physics
- CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik und Photovoltaik GmbH
- Universität Tübingen, Department of Ophthalmology of the Eye Hospital
According to the WHO (2010), clouding of the natural lens of the eye or cataract is the most common cause of blindness worldwide; in Germany, this figure is only 1.2% thanks to modern surgical techniques. About 650,000 cataract operations are performed annually in the Federal Republic. According to the German Ophthalmological Society, there are almost 10 million cataract sufferers.
CiS will present current research results at the COMPAMED 2012 trade fair, IVAM product market “High-tech for Medical Devices” in hall 8a, booth no.: G 19.5
