Contact lens correction for an aphakic patient with megalocornea

A 55-year old pseudophakic man with megalocornea presented with a progressive monocular diplopia. On examination the patient was found to have subluxation of the posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL)/capsular-bag-complex. Surgical removal of the complex was performed resulting in aphakic status. The patient was subsequently fitted with a custom contact lens for aphakia, with successful visual rehabilitation.     

The accuracy of Goldmann applanation tonometry over silicone hydrogel contact lenses in patients with glaucoma

PurposeTo investigate the accuracy of measuring intraocular pressure over a silicone hydrogel contact lens using Goldmann applanation tonometry in eyes with glaucoma.MethodsThis was a prospective, randomized study and enrolled 28 patients (28 right eyes) with primary open angle glaucoma. Intraocular pressure was taken with and without a silicone hydrogel contact lens (−0.50 D), in situ (using Goldmann applanation tonometry), in a randomized order of measurements. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test and Bland–Altman plot.ResultsThe mean difference (± standard deviation) found between intraocular pressure measurement without (mean 16.7 ± 3.2 mmHg) and with (mean 17.3 ± 3.0 mmHg) contact lens was found to be −0.57 ± 2.3 mmHg (95% confidence interval, −1.5 to 0.3). No significant statistical difference was found between the two groups with paired t-test (p = 0.19). The Bland Altman plot showed some evidence of increasing variability of differences between two measures of intraocular pressure, with increasing intraocular pressure. The 95% limits of agreement of the Bland Altman plot were unacceptably large (−5 mmHg to 3.9 mmHg).ConclusionAgreement between Goldmann applanation tonometry with and without contact lenses seems to be poor in patients with glaucoma, especially for high intraocular pressure.     

Analysis of release kinetics of ocular therapeutics from drug releasing contact lenses: Best methods and practices to advance the field

Several methods have been proposed to achieve an extended and controlled release of ocular therapeutics via contact lenses; however, the experimental conditions used to study the drug release vary greatly and significantly influence the release kinetics. In this paper, we examine variations in the release conditions and their effect on the release of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs (ketotifen fumarate, diclofenac sodium, timolol maleate and dexamethasone) from conventional hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses. Drug release was studied under different conditions, varying volume, mixing rates, and temperature. Volume had the biggest effect on the release profile, which ironically is the least consistent variable throughout the literature. When a small volume (2–30 mL) was used with no forced mixing and solvent exchange every 24 h, equilibrium was reached promptly much earlier than solvent exchange, significantly damping the drug release rate and artificially extending the release duration, leading to false conclusions. Using a large volume (200–400 mL) with a 30 rpm mixing rate and no solvent exchange, the release rate and total mass released was significantly increased. In general, the release performed in small volumes with no force mixing exhibited cumulative mass release amounts of 3–12 times less than the cumulative release amounts in large volumes with mixing. Increases in mixing rate and temperature resulted in relatively small increases of 1.4 and 1.2 times, respectively in fractional mass released. These results strongly demonstrate the necessity of proper and thorough analysis of release data to assure that equilibrium is not affecting release kinetics. This is paramount for comparison of various controlled drug release methods of therapeutic contact lenses, validation of the potential of lenses as an efficient and effective means of drug delivery, as well as increasing the likelihood of only the most promising methods reaching in vivo studies.     

Design and implementation of optical system for Placido-disc topography

Corneal topography provides powerful support in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal disease by displaying the corneal surface topography in data or image format. To realize the precise detection of corneal surface topography, an optical system for the corneal topography that is based on a Placido disc is designed, which includes a ring distribution on a Placido disc, an imaging system and a collimating illumination system. First, a mathematical model that is based on the corneal topography working principles is established with MATLAB to determine the distribution of white-and-black rings on the Placido disc, in which the ellipsoid facial rings-target of the Placido disc is utilized. Second, the imaging lens structure is designed and optimized by Zemax software. Last, the collimating illumination lens structure is designed by paraxial ray trace equations. The quality of the corneal topography, which is based on our designed optical system, is evaluated. The high-contrast image of uniformly distributed white-and-black rings is observed through the CCD camera. Our optical system for the corneal topography has high precision, with a measuring region of the cornea with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. Therefore, the creation of this optical system offers guidance for designing and improving the optical system of Placido-disc topography.     

大型冷冻机组净化回收系统的改造设计

文中阐述了某大型冷冻机组的净化回收系统的设计改造。实施技术改造措施后,提高了原冷冻机运行可靠性和制冷剂F-11回收率,为企业创造了可观的经济效益,同时大幅减少制冷剂F-11的排放,对保护生态环境有重要意义。     

Improved protein resistance of silicone hydrogels by grafting short peptides for ophthalmological application

A simple and facile approach to impart the antifouling properties of silicone hydrogels was developed in this report. Short peptides were first tethered to silicone hydrogels through terminal amino group-induced epoxy ring-opening click reaction. The modified silicone hydrogels have improved hydrophilicity and protein adsorption resistance because of the formation of zwitterionic structure of the grafted peptides. Furthermore, glycylglycine and diglycyl glycine-modified silicone hydrogel contact lenses were fabricated. They exhibited favorable antifouling property and no damage to rabbits’ eyes after continuous wearing. The short peptide modified silicone hydrogel contact lenses have potential application in ophthalmology.     

Photonic band gaps in quasicrystal-related approximant structures

Abstract

We propose a method for a systematic investigation of quasicrystal-related approximant structures in view of photonic bandgap applications. A detailed study is presented in the case of approximants formed by dielectric cylinders and constructed from a two-dimensional quasiperiodic lattice with octagonal symmetry. We show that isotropic photonic bandgaps are obtained even for the lowest order approximants generated by successive hyperspace shear. The main Fourier components of the dielectric function, responsible for the first photonic bandgap opening, are derived from the main component set of the quasiperiodic lattice. The magnitudes of the corresponding Brillouin zone vectors are shown to be directly related to the average distance between the planes passing by the dielectric cylinders. In other words, the approximant gap position is rather determined by the fundamental lattice parameters common to the quasiperiodic and approximant structures than by the approximant period. We also show that structure point symmetry is not indispensable for the band gap opening.     

An illusion effect of Maxwell’s fish-eye lens

We show that Maxwell＇s fish-eye lens can make a semi-circular perfect electric conductor look like a circular one. Such an effect can also be achieved （not perfectly） by using negative index metamaterials, but only within a single frequency. Maxwell＇s fish-eye lens, however, can work for a set of eigenfrequencies. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the effect.     

Investigation of solar hybrid system with concentrating Fresnel lens,photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators

An experimental model of a solar hybrid system including photovoltaic (PV) module, concentrating Fresnel lens, thermoelectric generator (TEG), and running water heat extracting unit was created and studied. The PV module used was of c‐Si and TEG of Bi₂Te₃; the Fresnel lens (solar concentrator) and TEG share an optical train, whereas PV module was illuminated separately with non‐concentrated light. Heat extracting unit operated in thermo siphon mode. In climatic conditions of Mexico (Queretaro, 20^o of North latitude, summer time), the Fresnel lens accepted 120 W of solar radiation power, and the system generated 7.0 W of electric power and 30 W of thermal one. The discussion is made of the possible characteristics of a hypothetical hybrid system where all its elements share the same optical train. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cryogenic forming behaviour of AW-6016-T4 sheet

The objective of this work is to study the cryogenic sheet metal forming behaviour of precipitation hardening AW-6016-T4. In this regard, the flow curves and forming limit curves were obtained by tension and Nakazima experimental testing methods in the temperature ranges from ?196 to 25 °C. It was found that strength and elongation increase with decreasing temperature. Small but perceived differences between microstructure of the material deformed at the room and cryogenic temperatures respectively were identified by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. However, no significant difference in the precipitation kinetics during continuous heating in the DSC has been observed. This study has demonstrated the potential of cryogenic forming by manufacturing a B-pillar part with 8 mm depth of side design element as compared to 6 mm at room temperature.