Bioengineered Contact Lenses: Therapeutics, Biosensing, and Smart Interfaces

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1327

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Department of Materials, Design and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
Interests: biomedical engineering; AI in healthcare; computer modelling and validation; design and manufacturing; material science
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Contact lenses continue to play a vital role in vision correction, with ongoing advancements in design, materials, and manufacturing enhancing their performance and accessibility. The convergence of bioengineering, smart materials, and microsystems is revolutionizing contact lenses, advancing them from passive optical devices to multifunctional biomedical platforms. This Special Issue highlights cutting-edge research at the intersection of ocular bioengineering and clinical translation, with a focus on the following:

  • Biomaterial Innovation: Stimuli-responsive polymers, nanostructured coatings, and 3D-printed hydrogels with enhanced oxygen permeability, hydration dynamics, and antimicrobial properties;
  • Biointegrated Systems: Microfabricated sensors for the real-time monitoring of biomarkers (e.g., glucose, intraocular pressure) and wireless ocular health diagnostics;
  • Therapeutic Delivery: Engineered drug-eluting lenses for the targeted treatment of anterior segment diseases, leveraging controlled-release mechanisms and biocompatibility paradigms;
  • Biointerface Engineering: Corneal lens biomechanics, tear film interactions, and computational models (AI/ML) to optimize ocular surface compatibility and safety;

We invite contributions on translational bioengineering approaches—from lab-scale prototyping to clinical validation—that address scalability, regulatory challenges, and patient-centric design. Interdisciplinary studies bridging micro/nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and precision medicine are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Ahmed Abass
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • contact lenses
  • vision correction
  • refractive error
  • smart contact lenses
  • drug delivery
  • biosensors
  • ocular physiology
  • corneal biomechanics
  • tear film
  • biocompatibility
  • biomedical engineering
  • responsive materials
  • wireless systems
  • myopia management and control
  • presbyopia
  • lens design
  • ocular surface
  • clinical applications
  • advanced manufacturing
  • digital health
  • mobile health apps

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 8037 KB  
Article
AI-Based Estimate of the Regional Effect of Orthokeratology Lenses on Tear Film Quality
by Lo-Yu Wu, Wen-Pin Lin, Rowan Abass, Richard Wu, Arwa Fathy, Rami Alanazi, Jay Davies and Ahmed Abass
Bioengineering 2025, 12(10), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12101086 - 6 Oct 2025
Viewed by 988
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate regional changes in tear film quality associated with orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lens wear using high-resolution spatial mapping and to evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) models in anticipating these changes. Methods: This study analysed tear film quality in 92 Ortho-K [...] Read more.
Purpose: To investigate regional changes in tear film quality associated with orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lens wear using high-resolution spatial mapping and to evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) models in anticipating these changes. Methods: This study analysed tear film quality in 92 Ortho-K wearers divided into three groups based on lens wear duration (10–29 days, 30–90 days, and ≥91 days). Placido-based topographer measurement was used to generate regional tear film maps before and after treatment. A custom MATLAB pipeline enabled regional comparisons and statistical mapping. A feedforward neural network was trained to forecast local tear film quality using spatial data. Results: Single-value global mean metrics showed minimal changes in tear film quality across groups. However, regional mean mapping revealed significant mid-peripheral and peripheral deterioration over time, particularly in nasal and temporal corneal zones. These changes were often overlooked by global averaging and remained invisible through tear film breakup time (TBUT) measurements. The AI model predicted spatial tear quality with high accuracy (R ≥ 0.9 in testing), capturing nuanced regional variations. Conclusions: The regional analysis uncovers subtle, clinically relevant tear film disruptions caused by Ortho-K lens wear, particularly in peripheral areas. These insights challenge the adequacy of traditional single-value global mean assessments. The AI model demonstrates the potential for non-invasive, predictive evaluation of tear stability, supporting more personalised and effective Ortho-K care. Full article
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