Applying MEMS technology to the diagnosis of glaucoma

We recently spoke with Jean-Marc Wismer, CEO of Sensimed AG, a Swiss company with its principal focus on the design, development and commercialization of integrated microsystems for medical devices. The company's first product is a non-invasive solution for continuous monitoring of intra-ocular pressure (IOP) to aid the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. It is expected to complement existing devices that enable ophthalmologists to perform single pressure measurement snapshots on IOP but fail to capture "around-the-clock" dynamic behavior necessary for accurate diagnosis. 

Glaucoma is a disease that leads to blindness unless adequate lifetime treatment is initiated early on. According to Mr. Wismer, there are 67 million people with glaucoma, including nearly 7 million each in the US and Europe. This number is expected to increase to 80-100 million by 2020.  Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness after cataract.