<p>While eye drops are a well-accepted and convenient method for ocular drug delivery, they exhibit significant limitations such as poor drug bioavailability, low ocular residence time, pulsatile delivery profiles in the tear fluid as well as the need for patient compliance. Silicone hydrogel (SH) contact lenses have been proposed as alternative ocular drug delivery systems due to their potential for targeted delivery to the corneal surface and high oxygen permeability. The ability of novel hyaluronic acid (HA)-containing silicone hydrogel materials to release timolol maleate (TM), an antiglaucoma drug, or ketotifen fumarate (KF), an anti-histamine administered for ocular allergies, was examined.</p> <p>The releasable wetting and the therapeutic agent were added to the pre-polymer mixture of the SH during synthesis through direct entrapment, while the reaction was performed by UV induced free-radical. The impact of the wetting agent on the swellability, surface wettability, optical transparency and <em>in vitro </em>drug release was studied.</p> <p>Simultaneous drug and wetting agent incorporation resulted in modified SH materials with slightly increased water content and significantly improved surface wettability. In addition, the optical transparency of these materials was not affected by drug loading. However, direct entrapment of HA decreased their optical clarity. <em>In vitro</em> release showed that TM was released over a 14 day period, whereas KF release lasted up to 36 days. For both therapeutic agents used in the current research, non-covalent entrapment of wetting agent and its MW did not significantly change the release kinetics, however the release rate of TM was slowed and controlled by the release of the HA, due to electrostatic interactions between the protonated TM and the anionic HA.</p> <p>The development of SH materials capable of simultaneously releasing a therapeutic and a wetting agent for an extended period of time and in a sustained manner can have a significant potential as extended drug delivery systems for the treatment of front of the eye diseases while also possibly providing comfort during wear.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Objetivos: Avaliar o desempenho visual(DV), por meio da AV logMAR de alto contraste, sensibilidade ao contaste(SC) e análise de frentes de onda(AFO), em míopes, com óculos e três LCG. Métodos: Estudo clínico e prospectivo, em 40 indivíduos míopes(-1,00D e -4,50D). Exames: AV logMAR de alto contraste, avaliação de SC e AFO. Resultados: A AFO detectou diferença na aberração de terceira ordem sem e com as LCG.. Em relação ao nível trifoil houve diferença entre com e sem LCG. Conclusões: Na avaliação do DV com óculos e com LCG, a AFO é uma medida mais sensível da função visual que a AV LogMAR de alto contraste e a SC. / Objective: to evaluate the visual performance(VP) by Visual acuity(VA)Logmar of high contrast, sensibility of contrast(SC) and wavefront (WF) in myopic patients correct with spectacles and 3 SCL Methods: prospective clinical trial was performed in 40 myopic patients(-1,00 D and -4,50 D). Exams: VA, WF and CS. Results: The WF analysis detected a significant difference in a third order aberration with and without SCL. There was significant difference related to trefoil coefficient in VP between with and without SCL. Conclusion: In VP evaluation with spectacles and SCL the wavefront analysis was more sensible measure of VP when compared with high contrast VA Logmar and CS.

O albinismo e uma alteracao genetica rara que compromete a producao de melanina. As alteracoes clinicas consistem na falta de pigmentacao da pele, cabelo e pelos. Apresenta alteracoes oftalmologicas importantes, que comprometem a acuidade visual de forma severa, na grande maioria dos casos. As alteracoes oftalmologicas sao, ametropias, nistagmo, rarefacao do epitelio pigmentado da iris e da retina, hipoplasia foveal e decussacao anomala do nervo optico. Este estudo foi dividido em tres diferentes partes com os seguintes objetivos principais: Parte 1: Analise comparativa entre o grau de transparencia da iris (GTI), o grau de transparencia da retina (GTR) e a espessura da regiao macular com a acuidade visual nos pacientes com albinismo. Parte 2: Teste de sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminancia e ofuscamento com lentes de contato filtrantes em ambientes claros e escuros. Parte 3: Avaliacao da visao de cores, utilizando\\se o teste de Pranchas de Ishihara e o Cambridge Color Test (CCT). Material\' e\' Métodos: Participaram do estudo 121 individuos albinos, com idade media de 31,18 (} 15,47) anos, o que totalizou 242 olhos. Os participantes foram divididos em diferentes grupos nas tres partes do estudo, alguns participaram de uma ou mais partes. Na primeira parte os participantes foram submetidos a consulta oftalmologica, classificacao do grau de transparencia da iris e da retina em uma nova classificacao baseada em quatro diferentes graus de transparencia, alem de avaliacao foveal pelo exame de Tomografia de Coerencia Optica (OCT). Na segunda parte, os participantes foram submetidos ao teste de contraste computadorizado, utilizando lentes de contato filtrante e transparentes, em ambientes claros e escuros. Nesta etapa foi avaliada a influencia da lente filtrante na sensibilidade de contraste visual dos individuos com albinismo. Na terceira parte, os participantes foram submetidos aos testes de Pranchas de Ishihara e de Cambridge Colour Test (CCT), para avaliacao da visao de cores nos pacientes albinos. Resultados: Os resultados foram os seguintes: Parte\'1: A correlacao entre AV logMAR e GTI foi positiva (+0,569) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre AV logMAR e GTR foi positiva (+0,531) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre AV logMAR e a espessura macular nao foi significativa (p=0,105). A correlacao entre GTI e GTR foi positiva (+ 0,627) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre espessura macular e GTI nao foi significativa (p=0,397). A correlacao entre espessura macular e GTR nao foi significativa (p=0,458). Parte 2: Houve melhora estatisticamente significante da sensibilidade ao contraste com as lentes filtrantes em relacao as lentes transparentes no ambiente de ofuscamento (claro), na frequencia de 0,3 cpg, 0,6 cpg e 1,0 cpg (ciclos por grau). Nao houve melhora significante nas frequencia 2,0 cpg e 4,0 cpg. Nao houve melhora estatisticamente significante da sensibilidade ao contraste de lentes filtrantes em relacao as lentes transparentes no ambiente escuro (penumbra) em nenhuma das frequencias espaciais estudadas. Parte\' 3: Todos os individuos com albinismo nao apresentaram nenhuma alteracao de visao de cores no teste de Pranchas de Ishihara. O CCT demonstrou piora no limiar de deteccao de cores significativa nos eixos protan (p=0,021) e deutan (p=0,017), mas nao houve diferenca no eixo tritan (p=0,212). Os testes estatisticos sugerem que uma amostra maior seja estudada para validacao dos resultados / Albinism is a rare genetic alteration that compromises the production of melanine in all body tissues. The clinical alterations are the lack of pigment in the skin and hair. It presents important ophthalmological changes that compromise the visual acuity, in most cases. The ophthalmological changes are: ametropia, nystagmus, iris pigmented epithelium rarefaction, retina pigmented epithelium rarefaction, foveal hipoplasia and abnormal optic nerve decussation. This study has been divided in three different parts and had the following main objectives: Part 1, comparative analysis of the iris transparency degree (ITD), the retina transparency degree (RTD) and macular thickness with the visual acuity in albino patients. Part 2: Spatial contrast sensitivity test of luminance and outshine wearing contact lenses with filters in light and dark environments. Part 3: color vision evaluation using the Ishihara Test and the Cambridge Color Test (CCT). For the study 121 individuals with albinism were included with an average of 31,18 years old } 15,47, a total of 242 eyes. The participants were divided in different groups in the three parts of the study, some participated in one or more parts. In the first part the participants have been through an ophthalmological exam, classification of the iris transparency degree (ITD) and the retinal transparency degree (RTD) by a new classification based in 4 different degrees of transparency. Foveal evaluation by the Optic Coherence Tomography exam (OCT) was made in the first part of this study. In the second part, the participants have been submitted to the computerized contrast test, using filtered and transparent contact lenses in light and dark environments. In this part the influence of the filtering lenses in the visual contrast sensitivity in the albinism patients has been evaluated. In the third part, the participants have been submitted to Ishihara Test and Cambridge Color Test in order to evaluate the color vision in albino patients. The results are as follows: Part\' 1: the correlation between visual acuity in Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) and ITD was positive (+0,569) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between visual acuity in logMAR and RTD was positive (+0,531) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between visual acuity in logMAR and the macular thickness was not significant (p=0,105). The correlation between ITD and RTD was positive (+ 0,627) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between the macular thickness and the ITD was not significant (p=0,397). The correlation between the macular thickness and the RTD was not significant (p=0,458). Part\'2: There has been a statistically significant improvement of the contrast sensitivity wearing the filtering lenses in relation to the transparent ones in bright environment, in the frequencies of 0,3 cycles per degree (cpd), 0,6 cpd and 1,0 cpd. There has been no significant improvement in the frequencies 2,0 cpd and 4,0 cpd. There has been no statistically significant improvement in contrast sensitivity wearing the filtering lenses in relation to the transparent one in the dark environment (shadow) in any of the spatial frequencies studied. Part\' 3: all albinism patients did not present any color vision change in the Ishihara Test. The CCT has shown a worsening in the color detection threshold in the protan axis (p=0,021) and deutan axis (p=0,017), but there has been no difference in the tritan axis (p=0,212). The statistic tests show that a bigger sample is recommended to confirm part 3 results

Objetivos: Avaliar o desempenho visual(DV), por meio da AV logMAR de alto contraste, sensibilidade ao contaste(SC) e análise de frentes de onda(AFO), em míopes, com óculos e três LCG. Métodos: Estudo clínico e prospectivo, em 40 indivíduos míopes(-1,00D e -4,50D). Exames: AV logMAR de alto contraste, avaliação de SC e AFO. Resultados: A AFO detectou diferença na aberração de terceira ordem sem e com as LCG.. Em relação ao nível trifoil houve diferença entre com e sem LCG. Conclusões: Na avaliação do DV com óculos e com LCG, a AFO é uma medida mais sensível da função visual que a AV LogMAR de alto contraste e a SC. / Objective: to evaluate the visual performance(VP) by Visual acuity(VA)Logmar of high contrast, sensibility of contrast(SC) and wavefront (WF) in myopic patients correct with spectacles and 3 SCL Methods: prospective clinical trial was performed in 40 myopic patients(-1,00 D and -4,50 D). Exams: VA, WF and CS. Results: The WF analysis detected a significant difference in a third order aberration with and without SCL. There was significant difference related to trefoil coefficient in VP between with and without SCL. Conclusion: In VP evaluation with spectacles and SCL the wavefront analysis was more sensible measure of VP when compared with high contrast VA Logmar and CS.

O albinismo e uma alteracao genetica rara que compromete a producao de melanina. As alteracoes clinicas consistem na falta de pigmentacao da pele, cabelo e pelos. Apresenta alteracoes oftalmologicas importantes, que comprometem a acuidade visual de forma severa, na grande maioria dos casos. As alteracoes oftalmologicas sao, ametropias, nistagmo, rarefacao do epitelio pigmentado da iris e da retina, hipoplasia foveal e decussacao anomala do nervo optico. Este estudo foi dividido em tres diferentes partes com os seguintes objetivos principais: Parte 1: Analise comparativa entre o grau de transparencia da iris (GTI), o grau de transparencia da retina (GTR) e a espessura da regiao macular com a acuidade visual nos pacientes com albinismo. Parte 2: Teste de sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminancia e ofuscamento com lentes de contato filtrantes em ambientes claros e escuros. Parte 3: Avaliacao da visao de cores, utilizando\\se o teste de Pranchas de Ishihara e o Cambridge Color Test (CCT). Material\' e\' Métodos: Participaram do estudo 121 individuos albinos, com idade media de 31,18 (} 15,47) anos, o que totalizou 242 olhos. Os participantes foram divididos em diferentes grupos nas tres partes do estudo, alguns participaram de uma ou mais partes. Na primeira parte os participantes foram submetidos a consulta oftalmologica, classificacao do grau de transparencia da iris e da retina em uma nova classificacao baseada em quatro diferentes graus de transparencia, alem de avaliacao foveal pelo exame de Tomografia de Coerencia Optica (OCT). Na segunda parte, os participantes foram submetidos ao teste de contraste computadorizado, utilizando lentes de contato filtrante e transparentes, em ambientes claros e escuros. Nesta etapa foi avaliada a influencia da lente filtrante na sensibilidade de contraste visual dos individuos com albinismo. Na terceira parte, os participantes foram submetidos aos testes de Pranchas de Ishihara e de Cambridge Colour Test (CCT), para avaliacao da visao de cores nos pacientes albinos. Resultados: Os resultados foram os seguintes: Parte\'1: A correlacao entre AV logMAR e GTI foi positiva (+0,569) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre AV logMAR e GTR foi positiva (+0,531) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre AV logMAR e a espessura macular nao foi significativa (p=0,105). A correlacao entre GTI e GTR foi positiva (+ 0,627) e significativa (p<0,001). A correlacao entre espessura macular e GTI nao foi significativa (p=0,397). A correlacao entre espessura macular e GTR nao foi significativa (p=0,458). Parte 2: Houve melhora estatisticamente significante da sensibilidade ao contraste com as lentes filtrantes em relacao as lentes transparentes no ambiente de ofuscamento (claro), na frequencia de 0,3 cpg, 0,6 cpg e 1,0 cpg (ciclos por grau). Nao houve melhora significante nas frequencia 2,0 cpg e 4,0 cpg. Nao houve melhora estatisticamente significante da sensibilidade ao contraste de lentes filtrantes em relacao as lentes transparentes no ambiente escuro (penumbra) em nenhuma das frequencias espaciais estudadas. Parte\' 3: Todos os individuos com albinismo nao apresentaram nenhuma alteracao de visao de cores no teste de Pranchas de Ishihara. O CCT demonstrou piora no limiar de deteccao de cores significativa nos eixos protan (p=0,021) e deutan (p=0,017), mas nao houve diferenca no eixo tritan (p=0,212). Os testes estatisticos sugerem que uma amostra maior seja estudada para validacao dos resultados / Albinism is a rare genetic alteration that compromises the production of melanine in all body tissues. The clinical alterations are the lack of pigment in the skin and hair. It presents important ophthalmological changes that compromise the visual acuity, in most cases. The ophthalmological changes are: ametropia, nystagmus, iris pigmented epithelium rarefaction, retina pigmented epithelium rarefaction, foveal hipoplasia and abnormal optic nerve decussation. This study has been divided in three different parts and had the following main objectives: Part 1, comparative analysis of the iris transparency degree (ITD), the retina transparency degree (RTD) and macular thickness with the visual acuity in albino patients. Part 2: Spatial contrast sensitivity test of luminance and outshine wearing contact lenses with filters in light and dark environments. Part 3: color vision evaluation using the Ishihara Test and the Cambridge Color Test (CCT). For the study 121 individuals with albinism were included with an average of 31,18 years old } 15,47, a total of 242 eyes. The participants were divided in different groups in the three parts of the study, some participated in one or more parts. In the first part the participants have been through an ophthalmological exam, classification of the iris transparency degree (ITD) and the retinal transparency degree (RTD) by a new classification based in 4 different degrees of transparency. Foveal evaluation by the Optic Coherence Tomography exam (OCT) was made in the first part of this study. In the second part, the participants have been submitted to the computerized contrast test, using filtered and transparent contact lenses in light and dark environments. In this part the influence of the filtering lenses in the visual contrast sensitivity in the albinism patients has been evaluated. In the third part, the participants have been submitted to Ishihara Test and Cambridge Color Test in order to evaluate the color vision in albino patients. The results are as follows: Part\' 1: the correlation between visual acuity in Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) and ITD was positive (+0,569) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between visual acuity in logMAR and RTD was positive (+0,531) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between visual acuity in logMAR and the macular thickness was not significant (p=0,105). The correlation between ITD and RTD was positive (+ 0,627) and significant (p<0,001). The correlation between the macular thickness and the ITD was not significant (p=0,397). The correlation between the macular thickness and the RTD was not significant (p=0,458). Part\'2: There has been a statistically significant improvement of the contrast sensitivity wearing the filtering lenses in relation to the transparent ones in bright environment, in the frequencies of 0,3 cycles per degree (cpd), 0,6 cpd and 1,0 cpd. There has been no significant improvement in the frequencies 2,0 cpd and 4,0 cpd. There has been no statistically significant improvement in contrast sensitivity wearing the filtering lenses in relation to the transparent one in the dark environment (shadow) in any of the spatial frequencies studied. Part\' 3: all albinism patients did not present any color vision change in the Ishihara Test. The CCT has shown a worsening in the color detection threshold in the protan axis (p=0,021) and deutan axis (p=0,017), but there has been no difference in the tritan axis (p=0,212). The statistic tests show that a bigger sample is recommended to confirm part 3 results

Current Google provides almost all type of information in a similar way - list of web pages. But Each information needs a different manner of mediation. A different way of visualisation. Therefore I decided to create Google of tomorrow. I am focused on a new way of spreading information and communication. I created new tools which help to achieve this vision. These tools operate in augmented reality. My diploma is mainly work of design fiction and information design. I use extrapolation to create possible future scenarios. Future abilities of Google tools are extrapolated from its current technologies.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka aktuell praxis bland optikeri Sverige vad gäller evidensbaserat arbete för att främja god compliance hoskontaktlinspatienter, samt att belysa de eventuella områden där optiker iSverige kan förbättra sitt arbete i ovan nämnda avseende. Metod: En online-baserad enkät med 28 frågor togs fram och delades medOptikerförbundets medlemmar samt via Facebookgruppen Optikforum. Svaren sammanställdes och analyserades. Utvalda frågor poängsattes därmaxpoäng innebar “godkänt”, alltså att deltagaren alltid gör det somefterfrågas i enkäten, i enlighet med Kvalitetsnorm i synvården. Resultat: Antal svarande var 196, varav 190 inkluderades. 108 av dessaarbetade självständigt, alltså utan delegation till annan personal, vidnytillpassning, återbesök samt årskontroll vid kontaktlinstillpassning, ochpoängsattes därför. 24% av de 108 erhöll full poäng och ansågs arbetaevidensbaserat för att främja god kontaktlinsrelaterad compliance. Områdendär dessa 108 optiker fick lägst poäng, och således skulle kunna förbättra sittarbete för att främja kontaktlinsrelaterad compliance, var informerande av:vikten av egenkontroll av ögonen, vikten av rätt skötselrutin om patientenanvänder smink, hur länge kontaktlinserna bör gnuggas samt vikten avlinsvila. Hos de samtliga 190 inkluderades svar framkom att 4 av 5 optiker isamband med årskontroll aldrig eller sällan ber sina patienter att visa hur derengör sina kontaktlinser, eller ber sina patienter visa hur de sätter i- och tarur sina kontaktlinser. Slutsats: Alla optiker i denna studie arbetade inte helt och hålletevidensbaserat. Denna studie visade att optiker i Sveriges arbete med attfrämja kontaktlinsrelaterad compliance kan förbättras, bland annat vad gällertillhandahållande av patientinformation. Detta kan bidra till ökad compliancehos denna patientgrupp, vilket i sin tur kan minska risken förkontaktlinsrelaterade komplikationer. Ökad tillgång till extra utbildning omkontaktlinser för optikerna skulle också kunna förbättra detta arbete. / Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate current practiceamongst optometrists in Sweden regarding evidence-based work toencourage compliance in their contact lens patients. Moreover, to highlightthe potential areas where the optometrists possibly could improve their workwithin the field of encouraging contact lens-related compliance. Method: An online based survey was developed and shared with membersof the Swedish Optometrists’s Association, Optikerförbundet, and theFacebook-group ‘Optikforum’. The responses were compiled and analysed.Selected questions were scored, where the maximum score amounted to a“passing grade”, meaning that the participant always does what is requestedin the questionnaire, in accordance with the Quality Norm of vision care. Result: The number of respondents was 196, of which 190 were included.108 of these worked independently, i.e. without delegation to other staff,during new fitting, return visits and annual control during contact lens fitting,and were therefore scored. 24% of the 108 received full points and wereconsidered to be working evidence-based to encourage contact lens-relatedcompliance. Areas where these 108 opticians scored the lowest, and thuscould improve their work to encourage contact lens-related compliance, wereinformative of: the importance of self-examination of the eyes, theimportance of the correct care routine if the patient wears make-up, how longthe contact lenses should be rubbed and the importance of contact lens rest.In the responses of all 190 included, it emerged that 4 out of 5 opticians inconnection with the annual check-up never or rarely ask their patients toshow how they clean their contact lenses, nor ask their patients to show howthey put in and take out their contact lenses. Conclusion: All optometrists in this study were not always working in anevidence-based manner. This study showed that optometrists in Sweden’swork to encourage contact lens-related compliance can be improved, one ofthem being in terms of providing patient information. This can contribute toincreased compliance in this patient group, which in turn can reduce the riskof contact lens-related complications. Increasing the amount of extraeducation for the optometrists regarding contact lenses, could also improvetheir work in this regard.