102544Application of Nanonstructured Smart Surfaces to Ophthalmic medical DevicesClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKContact lens discomfort is the primary factor that limits an annual increases in the proportion of successful contact lens patient outcomes. A stagnant level of 3.7 million UK patients masks an underlying turbulence with 30% discontinuing lens wear annually and over 50% of these citing discomfort as the causal factor, a trend repeated globally. Recent research has pinpointed the eye-to-lens interface, ie. the lens surface, as the critical factor in patient perception of comfort. Specifically the surface factors that can enhance comfort are the reduction of (i) friction between the CL and ocular surface; (ii) and accumulation of denaturated protein and lipid deposits. Inclusion of hydrophobic silicone monomers in contact lenses to amplify oxygen transport to the avascular cornea tend to reduce lubriciousness whilst increasing lipid deposition. Contamac propose to exploit novel nanofabrication protocols to create nanoscale polyethylene glycol (PEG) lens surface coatings that can facilitate smart properties in order to provide greatly enhanced contact lens comfort through elimination of the causal factors outlined above.