Development assessment of natural latex membranes: A new proposal for the treatment of amblyopia

Abstract

The ophthalmic dysfunction amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is characterized by decreased vision in one eye due to improper development in childhood. The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize natural rubber membranes and to assess their utility as an eye film capable of altering the passage of light. The latex membranes were produced using the Van Gogh method and the deposition technique and were analyzed by physical and chemical methods to determine the properties of latex in natura and of natural rubber membranes. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, analysis of water sorption and light crossing analysis. We report here a new approach to the treatment of patients with amblyopia using latex membranes.