IIT Madras Researchers Develop New Method for Retinal Treatment

October 3, 2024

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, have developed new techniques to treat eye problems like retinal tears and diabetic retinopathy. These eye conditions affect about 11 million people in India. The research uses mild laser-induced convection, a method that makes delivering treatment to the retina faster and more effective.

How the Technique Works

The study is the result of over 10 years of work between Professor Arunn Narasimhan and eye specialist Dr. Lingam Gopal. They studied how heat from lasers affects the retina and helps deliver medicine more efficiently. By using computer simulations and experiments, they discovered that by gently heating the eye, they could speed up the process of getting medication to the retina.

Key Findings

The researchers tested their method using a model of a human eye made of glass. Normally, when the medicine is given to the retina through natural diffusion, it takes about 12 hours for the drug to reach the right concentration. But with this new heating method, the time was reduced to just 12 minutes.

Safety and Future Use

Importantly, the study showed that this gentle heating method does not harm eye tissues, making it safe to use. The researchers believe this technique can be applied to treat various retinal diseases more effectively in the future.

Significance of the Research

This research was published in the Wiley Heat Transfer Journal and will be shared at the ICCHMT conference. It shows that the scientific community values this work and its potential impact on treating retinal disorders.