Contact lenses that slowly release allergy eye medicine
Drug delivery platform for ocular allergy therapy
['FUNDING_SBIR_2'] · LYNTHERA CORPORATION · NIH-11172532
A one-day contact lens that releases olopatadine to help contact-lens wearers with itchy, allergic eyes stay comfortable for longer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_SBIR_2'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | LYNTHERA CORPORATION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LANCASTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11172532 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would wear a daily disposable contact lens engineered to slowly release the allergy medicine olopatadine using charged boundary modifiers that control drug release. The developers plan to pair the most effective anti-allergy drug with highly breathable lens materials so you don’t have to trade comfort for relief. They will measure drug-release and lens performance in the lab and advance to safety and comfort testing in people. The aim is to provide longer-lasting relief than current medicated lenses that only help for a few hours.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who regularly wear contact lenses and suffer from itchy, red, or watery eyes due to seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not wear contact lenses, who are allergic to olopatadine or the proposed lens materials, or who have severe ocular disease are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let contact-lens wearers with allergic conjunctivitis wear lenses comfortably for much longer without needing frequent eye drops.
How similar studies have performed: A ketotifen-releasing contact lens (ACUVUE Theravision) has been approved but provides only a few hours of relief, and olopatadine eye drops have shown better symptom relief than ketotifen, so this project builds on prior work while seeking longer duration.
Where this research is happening
LANCASTER, UNITED STATES
- LYNTHERA CORPORATION — LANCASTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YANG, ARTHUR — LYNTHERA CORPORATION
- Study coordinator: YANG, ARTHUR
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.