Pat Hagan of the Daily Mail

Published: March 29, 2021 20:17 EST | Updated: March 29, 2021 20:27 EST

Contact lenses made of millions of gold nanoparticles, no bigger than a grain of dust, can fight a common color blindness.

These "gold dust" particles filter out certain wavelengths of light, so the brain can more easily distinguish different colors, especially red and green.

Approximately 1 out of 12 men and 200 women suffer from this disease called "red-green vision defect", which is the most common type of color blindness.

It is more common in men because it is inherited through the X chromosome (males have only one X chromosome, which comes from their mother. If they have a colorblind gene, they will be affected; women need to inherit the gene from both parents to be affected) .

Contact lenses made of millions of gold nanoparticles, no bigger than a grain of dust, can fight a common color blindness

A genetic defect means that some color-sensitive cells (called cones) in the back of the eye are missing or not working properly. It may also occur in later life due to diseases that damage the eyes, such as diabetes or glaucoma. Some prescription drugs—such as sildenafil (Viagra)—can also affect color perception.

When light hits the back of the eye, the cone cells separate all colors and transmit information to the brain. 

If the cone cells are lost or damaged—for example, in red-green color blindness, the cone cells that detect red and green tones are affected, and light of different colors can overlap or fuse together where they reach the eye—it is difficult Separate them.

In red-green color blindness, the cones that detect red and green tones are affected, and light of different colors can overlap or merge where they reach the eye-it is difficult to distinguish them

Red glasses can help filter out some of the light entering the eyes, reduce the amount of overlap and effectively increase the contrast between colors.

The problem is that these glasses are bulky and the lenses are dark red, making them unsuitable for daily wear. 

However, the new contact lenses are more discreet and only have a slight pink hue. They appear pink (instead of gold) because, in tiny fragments, gold has a small surface area, so it does not reflect the entire spectrum (which makes it look golden and shiny), but reflects more The red light, which makes the lens look rosy.

So far, attempts to manufacture contact lenses have had limited success. This is partly because when used in contact lenses, the dyes used in the glasses can penetrate the eyes, reducing their effectiveness.

Scientists at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates and Imperial College London conducted experiments on gold particles because the metal can be safely used in the body.

To make contact lenses, the team mixed gold particles into a hydrogel polymer, which is the material used for standard contact lenses.

According to ACS Nano magazine, in a laboratory study, the lens blocked at least 50% of the mixed red and green light, making it easier to distinguish colors.

Melanie Hingorani, an ophthalmologist at the Moorfield Eye Hospital in London, said: “Lens can help some people with color blindness, just like tinted glasses, but they cannot be cured.”

Exercise not only makes your muscles tired-researchers have found that it can improve the quality of your sleep, although most people will not notice the difference.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan used computerized methods to record brain signals to determine the depth of sleep.

Nine volunteers exercised for 60 minutes and then connected to the technology while they were sleeping. Participants received a deeper and more refreshing rest after the exercise-although volunteers reported no changes.

The researchers wrote in the journal Scientific Reports that their work may help develop new ways to treat sleep disorders.

Exercise not only makes your muscles tired-researchers have found that it can improve your sleep quality, although most people will not notice the difference

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a gel "bandage" made from waste-durian fruit and glycerin in soap making-they say it is an environmentally friendly and safe wound treatment method

The product is made by processing durian shells that are usually discarded and baker's yeast (with antibacterial properties) to form a hydrogel patch. They are used in wounds because their high water content promotes healing.

ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering magazine reported that this gel is similar to silicon wafers and can be cut to a certain size.

A drug that treats rare enzyme disorders can help treat the herpes virus that causes cold sores.

A study by the University of Illinois in the United States found that when this drug called phenylbutyrate was used together with acyclovir (a drug used to treat herpes), the combination eliminated the virus that also causes genital herpes. The speed is faster than when used alone.

Researchers say that with the approval of the drug, it can treat herpes more quickly.

A drug that treats rare enzyme disorders can help treat the herpes virus that causes cold sores [File photo]

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland say that eating blackcurrants may help treat type 2 diabetes.

In a study involving 26 volunteers, scientists found that just 75 grams can lower blood sugar and insulin levels in half an hour. They say this shows that this fruit can help regulate the body's blood sugar response and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Blackcurrant contains anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that prevent cell damage. It is thought that anthocyanins may inhibit enzymes that help break down sugars. 

The following comments are unreviewed.

The views expressed in the above content are the views of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We no longer accept comments on this article.

Published by United Press Limited

Part of "Daily Mail", "Sunday Mail" and Metro Media Group