Atropine-loaded contact lenses for myopia control: design and preclinical evaluation

Abstract

Myopia is a global public health priority due to its increasing prevalence in children. This PhD Thesis was aimed to the design of contact lenses (CLs) that load and elute therapeutically relevant amounts of atropine for a dual physical and pharmacological intervention. Functional monomers of different nature were combined at specific ratios to modulate the amounts of drug loaded and to achieve sustained release. The preclinical evaluation of atropine-loaded CLs included in vivo models to assess ocular tissue distribution and penetration to the posterior segment. Parameters of the synthesized hydrogels related to CLs comfort and wearability were characterized, including oxygen permeability. The findings support the possibility of obtaining dual prospective interventions for the control of myopia progression.