INNOVATIVE TRIZ-BASED APPROACH TO PREVENT CLDE SYMPTOMS IN SILICONE-HYDROGEL EYE CONTACT LENSES

초록

Since the invention of a very first eye contact lens in 1887, as an alternative to conventional glasses, drastic changes has been implied into the material, structure, shape and other parameters of eye contact lenses. Nowadays eye contact lenses are used by over 150 million people worldwide for corrective, cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. The most popular modern eye contact lenses are made from silicon and hydrogel. Silicon makes up the channels inside the lens through which oxygen, water and nutrients are going to the cornea, while hydrogel as a highly hydrophilic gel adsorbs water and maintains soft structure of the lens which is necessary for normal functioning of the eye. Although both components are necessary in the eye contact lens, they cause negative effects such as increased evaporation due to porous structure and water adsorption from tear film, that is critical for maintaining moisture on the eye surface. Combination of these effects ultimately lead to the occurrence of contact lens-related dry eye syndrome (CLDE), that is experienced by about 50% of contact lens wearers. Our goal is to apply TRIZ-based approaches to develop an innovative structure of eye contact lenses that will prevent the occurrence of CLDE. After thorough study of the mechanisms triggering CLDE the technical contradiction and physical contradiction of the core problem were identified. Cause-effect chain Analysis (CECA) and function diagram played the key role in transitioning from the problem to the possible solutions. Various ideas of improvement were suggested through the specifics of application of different TRIZ tools in accordance with ARIZ85C. Conclusively, TRIZ can be a potential breakthrough if incorporated as a solving method for medical, biological, biochemical and other related areas.

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