Hi-tech Contact Lenses

Looking beyond improving eyesight

photo by Arteum, courtesy of Unsplash

Contact lenses can be used for far more than just improving eyesight. In fact, there are a variety of “smart lenses” available on the market right now and many more advanced lenses to come.

Telescopic

The telescopic contact lens lets you magnify your surroundings in the blink of an eye — literally. The design by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology works by zooming in when you blink with your right eye and zooming out when you blink with your left eye. These particular models have the capacity to enhance objects with up to 3x magnification.

photo by Nong Vang, courtesy of Unsplash

The mechanics work with the help of miniature aluminum mirrors. Depending on which eye is blinked, a polarizing filter will either direct light towards or away from the mirrors.

Real reflecting telescopes work the same way, using mirrors to capture and reflect light.

With the telescopic contact lens, this technology could be especially useful for magnification tools in the military or as a helpful instrument for those suffering from macular degeneration.

Drug administration