The EYE project has delivered significant advancements in presbyopia treatment, introducing innovations that go beyond current solutions:
• Lens Design & Comfort: The development of EDOF lenses and silicone-free hydrogels will represent a breakthrough in presbyopia correction, with the potential to reduce patient rejection and improve overall comfort.
• Personalized Monitoring: The PRO-instrument and the mobile app developed allows for continuous, real-time monitoring of lens wearers, offering a new, cost-effective way to personalize care. It also reveals how environmental factors like humidity affect lens comfort, providing insights for future designs.
• Computational Modelling Insights: The computational model developed offers deep insights into the biomechanical interactions between the eye and contact lenses, guiding the design of lenses that provide better fit and stability.
The potential socio-economic impact of these innovations is substantial. They promise greater patient satisfaction, longer lens wear times, fewer clinic visits, and more affordable solutions, particularly for underserved populations. The project's outcomes empower healthier aging, visual independence, and improved productivity, contributing to the well-being of individuals and society.
Early-Stage Researchers were trained through an interdisciplinary doctoral programme that successfully combined academic excellence and industrial relevance. All five ESRs submitted their PhD theses, in line with the training plans outlined in Annex 1, and each spent at least 18 months in industry settings, ensuring direct exposure to real-world research environments. The training encompassed advanced scientific research, complementary skills development, and intensive private sector engagement. Their involvement in cutting-edge work contributed to high-impact research outputs and has significantly enhanced their career trajectories—with two ESRs already securing positions in academia and the med-tech industry.
To maximize the societal and scientific impact of the project, the consortium undertook a comprehensive programme of dissemination and public engagement. This included the production of six peer-reviewed Open Access publications, with six more manuscripts currently under preparation or review, participation in international conferences, regular updates via social networks and the project website, and a focused effort on patent protection of key technical innovations.
Through its integrated approach to research, training, and innovation, the project has fostered sustainable academic–industry partnerships, contributed to technological advancements in vision science, and strengthened Europe’s position in global scientific leadership.
