Graphene-enhanced sensor could determine the extent of an eye injury

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champain are developing a portable graphene-based sensor that can rapidly and inexpensively determine whether an eye injury is mild or severe. The device is named OcuCheck and could aid in determining the extent of eye injuries at accident sites, in rural areas lacking ophthalmology specialists or on the battlefield. 

The sensor is designed to measure levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the fluids that coat or leak from the eye, which are found in low levels in the ocular tear film and in higher levels in the interior of the eye. The concept is that if severe damage occurs, the vitamin C leaks out in higher concentrations and can be detected.