According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes affects more than 382 million people worldwide and by 2035 it is estimated to increase to a staggering 592 million people. Even with such a large number of people affected by this disease, there is still no cure. Patients must prick themselves on the finger in order to obtain a sample of blood, which can then be used to test their blood glucose level. As you can imagine this can become a nuisance for those patients that have to prick themselves almost ten times a day. However, a cure to avoid the constant pricking is coming in the near future.
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Google Inc. the multi-billion dollar company that is in charge of the world’s biggest search engine, various cellular devices, computers and more is now planning on making a splash into the medical industry. Google Inc. recently unveiled its newest product: a contact lens that uses the tears in a patient’s eye to notify them of their blood glucose levels. The contact itself is made of two layers of “biocompatible” material, which feels similar to what is found in traditional contact lenses. The technology is found in between the two layers: the sensor, which detects the blood glucose level; the chip, which receives the power so the contact lens is constantly checking your glucose levels; and the antenna, which can send the information it receives to the wearer. See the following video interview the Telegraph held with Brian Otis, Google X engineer, about this new contact lens.
Although the contact lens is still in its’ early stages, the future holds great promise for those suffering from diabetes. The idea of having electronics in your eyes is something the world has never seen before and must be approached with caution. Having said that, I think that after rigorous testing by the engineers at Google Inc. and substantial input from the optometry world, this idea has the potential to make the lives of many people around the world much easier. We must also remember that in a world that is completely driven by advances in technology, a new idea such as this may open doors to many more life changing innovations.
By Vishav Gill
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