Implantable Self‐Aligning Fiber‐Optic Optomechanical Devices for in vivo Intraocular Pressure‐Sensing in Artificial Cornea

Implantable Self‐Aligning Fiber‐Optic Optomechanical Devices for in vivo Intraocular Pressure‐Sensing in Artificial Cornea:

Abstract

Artificial cornea is an effective treatment of corneal blindness. Yet, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements for glaucoma monitoring remain an urgent unmet need. Here, we present the integration of a fiber‐optic Fabry‐Perot pressure sensor with an FDA‐approved keratoprosthesis for real‐time IOP measurements using a novel strategy based on optical‐path self‐alignment with micromagnets. Additionally, an alternative non‐contact sensor‐interrogation approach is demonstrated using a bench‐top optical coherence tomography system. We show stable pressure readings with low baseline drift (<2.8 mmHg) for >4.5 years in vitro and efficacy in IOP interrogation in vivo using fiber‐optic self‐alignment, with good initial agreement with the actual IOP. Subsequently, IOP drift in vivo was due to retroprosthetic membrane (RPM) formation on the sensor secondary to surgical inflammation (more severe in the current pro‐fibrotic rabbit model). This study paves the way for clinical adaptation of optical pressure sensors with ocular implants, highlighting the importance of controlling RPM in clinical adaptation.

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