Nanoshell-Based Near-Infrared Blocking Contact Lens

This Phase II SBIR proposal will complete the development of a contact lens that will provide nanoparticle-based protection from high intensity near-infrared illumination. The near-infrared protection is provided by embedding a new class of optically tunable nanoparticles, called nanoshells, within the contact lens. Nanoshells consist of a non-conducting core surrounded by a thin metal shell. This structure allows the particle to be designed to extinguish target wavelengths of light throughout the visible and infrared spectrum. The Phase I work indicates that nanoshells embedded in contact lens polymers can extinguish substantially all of incident light within defined wavelengths in the near-infrared while allowing transmission at acceptable levels in the visible range, with minimal changes to current contact lens manufacturing techniques. Animal studies to date indicate that nanoshells are safe and well tolerated, so no safety issues are expected.