Applying eyedrops is difficult in space, where there is almost no gravity. A KAIST research team has developed a wearable patch that delivers eyedrops to the eye without relying on gravity. The research team was led by Professor Ki-Hun Jeong from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Se Joon Woo from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. The paper is published in the journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical.

During long-duration space exploration, technologies that allow astronauts to manage their health without direct help from medical staff are essential. In particular, microgravity causes body fluids to shift toward the head, which can change the structure of the eyes and visual function. However, the standard method of applying eyedrops on Earth depends on drops falling by gravity, so it cannot be used in space without modification.