These are the contact lenses that can replace your mobile phone: night vision, magnification, and real-time health monitoring
Tech startup XPANCEO is developing augmented reality contact lenses, following a successful funding round led by Opportunity Ventures, which raised a total of $250 million.
With this funding, the company will develop contact lenses that offer night vision, zoom capabilities, and real-time health monitoring, potentially enabling them to eventually replace traditional contact lenses. But how did the idea for this project come about?
Dr. Valentin S. Volkov, founder and scientific partner of XPANCEO, reveals on the company's official website that the startup's team has exceptional expertise in physics, which is why they leveraged artificial intelligence to optimize workflows and analyze patents. This has accelerated the development of an unprecedented number of prototypes to create contact lenses that "redefine the rules of personal technology and personal computing."
On the other hand, Roman Axelrod, founder and managing partner of XPANCEO, states on the startup's official website that they are on the right track, having developed 15 working prototypes in just 24 months, "each of which opens up new horizons of possibilities." However, the goal remains the same: "Integrating all devices into a single, invisible interface: the eyes."
Thus, since its last edition in 2023, XPANCEO has achieved significant technological advancements, including the development of an augmented reality lens, a smart lens with an intraocular pressure sensor for glaucoma monitoring, a biochemical lens capable of measuring health indicators—such as glucose levels directly from tear fluid—and even a lens with wireless charging and real-time data readings. Other prototypes include nanoparticle-enhanced lenses for night vision and color correction, as well as lenses designed for 3D imaging.
In April 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved contact lenses that prevent itchy eyes caused by allergies for up to 12 hours. Other lenses, developed by a research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, may prevent blindness caused by diabetes.
Separately, tech company PnWith Corporation unveiled the world's first soft electronic contact lens that works with a smartphone or other external device. It also unveiled a contact lens featuring low-latency communications and an eye-control user interface. However, none of the four innovations have been commercialized yet.