The Amniotic Membrane Contact Lens (AMCL)
By: Lisa Kim
The amniotic membrane contact lens was invented by Dr. Ming Wang, a world-renown eye surgeon. These lenses help a patient recover from eye damage caused by dryness and reduce inflammation (Wang Vision Institute). The amniotic membrane is a piece of tissue from the placenta that has been used in various ways for medicine because of its healing properties (Mcgaughy). Specifically, in ophthalmology (the diagnosis/treatment of eye disorders), the amniotic membrane has been used to treat patients with chemical burns to their eyes and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (Stephenson). This article will discuss the specific patients who need an AMCL and the general procedure to receive these lenses.
Those most suitable for the AMCL have struggled with dry eye syndrome or have vision impairment due to corneal scarring (Wang Vision Institute). Patients seeking this form of treatment must first consult with their ophthalmologist to discuss their symptoms and case history. Moreover, they should also receive an eye examination to determine if there could possibly be other treatments available for their eye condition and if they are eligible to receive the AMCL.
A brief summary of the procedure to implant an AMCL is explained below. The overall procedure takes only a few minutes, and over the course of a few days, the membrane should be fully absorbed by the corneal tissue.
- A patient’s eyes are numbed with a topical anesthetic.
- The amniotic membrane disk is placed on the eyeballs and flattened out to lie evenly.
- Drops are administered to activate the lens.
- Finally, a bandaged contact lens is placed over the disk and the cornea’s surface.
- A follow-up check-up is required after the procedure.
Bioengineering Devices
By: Aiman Zaka
What comes to human mind when we hear the word bioengineering? The word itself gives away an idea of what the term means. Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles, practices, and technologies to the fields of medicine and biology especially in solving problems and improving care (Merriam Webster definition). Prostheses (artificial body parts replacing lost arms and legs), medical imagining techniques such as MRI and ultrasound, also the use of engineered organisms for chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing are all mind-blowing developments made by the field of bioengineering.
A major area of application in bioengineering today is biomedical engineering. Biomedical engineers work to solve medical and biological problems and design new health care technologies, including medical devices and implants, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic approaches. The pharmaceutical, medical device and implant, biotechnology, and tissue engineering industries are all served by bioengineering. (Nerem Robert, 1997)
Some of the mind blowing devices introduced by biomedical engineering include:
- X-ray machines. This century-old technology allows medical professionals to see broken bones, dental cavities, and other things inside the human body that need attention. X-ray machines inform many common medical treatments and give information without being invasive.
- Electrocardiographs. Another century-old technology, EKG machines can tell doctors whether a patient’s heart is functioning normally or needs more study or treatment.
- Nanotechnology. Nanoparticles are tiny, often microscopic particles that are increasingly used to detect and treat various forms of cancer at an almost cellular level. Nanomaterials are used to carry dyes to very small areas as contrast agents to detect tumors and to carry treatment drugs directly to cancer instead of having to treat a larger area (or the entire body)
- Brain-Machine Interface.These devices help people’s brains communicate with prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and other assistive devices to make them move.
- Eko Core. This device takes data gathered from a stethoscope and puts it on the cloud, where a doctor can download it onto a smartphone or a tablet.
- Bluetooth Pulse Oximeter. Monitoring a patient’s blood oxygen level just got a lot easier with the recent introduction of two devices that use Bluetooth to deliver the information to a smartphone or tablet using an app, allowing doctors to more closely keep track of a patient’s condition. (Tech Florida, 2017)
Thus, if we look at where we are today, we are facing nothing less than a cultural revolution, one as important as that which led to the advent of cell culture at the beginning of this century. This journey into the Biotech Century will take us into new and exciting territory, in many ways unknown but offering enormous challenges and opportunities. (Nerem Robert, 1997)
WorkCited:
The Amniotic Membrane Contact Lens (AMCL)
“Amniotic Membrane Contact Lens in Nashville, TN.” Wang Vision Institute, https://wangvisioninstitute.com/services/cornea/amniotic-membrane-contact-lens-nashville-tn. Accessed 24 April 2022.
Mcgaughy, Alex G., et al. “In-Office Use of Amniotic Membrane.” American Academy of Ophthalmology, https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/in-office-use-of-amniotic-membrane. Accessed 24 April 2022.
Stephenson, Michelle. “Treatment Options with Amniotic Membrane.” Review of Ophthalmology, 5 November 2015, https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/treatment-options-with-amniotic-membrane. Accessed 24 April 2022.
Bioengineering Devices
“Bioengineering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/bioengineering. Accessed 24 Apr. 2022.
“What is bioengineering.” The University of Toledo,
https://www.utoledo.edu/engineering/bioengineering/undergrad/prospective/whatisbioe.html
“The Emergence of Bioengineering”, Fall Issue of The Bridge on Bioengineering. AUTHOR: ROBERT
NEREM, https://www.nae.edu/7543/TheEmergenceofBioengineering
“7 Biomedical Engineering Breakthroughs that Changed Lives”, Florida Tech. September 4, 2017.
https://news.fit.edu/academics-research/7-biomedical-engineering-degree-breakthroughs-that-
Medical Wonders 