Feeling the Pressure: A Parylene-Based Intraocular Pressure Sensor

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is important for the prevention and treatment of certain human eye diseases. For example, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world according to the World Health Organization [1]. The majority of glaucoma patients have an IOP >; 20 mmHg (compared with a normal IOP of 10 mmHg), which could damage patients optic nerves in the backside of the eye and cause irreversible blindness. Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma, but with early diagnosis and proper treatment, the visual loss can be slowed or eliminated. Due to the lack of other symptoms or pain, and the eye's ability to compensate for loss of peripheral vision, many glaucoma patients are unaware of the disease's development until it is severe. In fact, only half of the patients in the United States are aware of having glaucoma. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent blindness. Thus, a device to diagnose early-stage glaucoma is in demand.