Telescopic contact lens: Smart contact lenses could give us a new viewpoint

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• May 6, 2022

Insight summary

Telescopic contact lenses, offering functionalities such as zooming in and out, are gradually entering the healthcare market with the potential to aid in various medical, military, and personal uses. These lenses can enhance visual capabilities significantly, presenting a futuristic approach to addressing visual challenges and potentially transforming several industries, including healthcare, defense, and sports. As they become more integrated into daily life, they may influence government policies, business models, and educational strategies, while also raising environmental concerns due to the need for sustainable disposal solutions.

Telescopic contact lens context

Smart contact lenses are designed to address various health issues, including treating myopia and glaucoma, and monitoring blood sugar levels. These lenses, which are gradually making their way into the market, offer healthcare professionals various applications to explore. For instance, telescopic contact lenses, a subset of smart lenses, have been introduced to enhance visual capabilities. They are equipped with features that allow users to zoom in and out, providing a detailed view of objects, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with visual impairments.

Telescopic contact lens development began around 2015, spearheaded by the research university Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The initial prototype of this lens contained a tiny telescope, approximately 1 millimeter thick, which housed aluminum mirrors to facilitate the zooming function. This technology operates in harmony with polarized glasses; a blink of the right eye activates the zoom-in feature, while a blink of the left eye triggers a zoom-out effect. These lenses can enhance the magnification of a viewed object or scene by up to 2.8 times.

In 2019, a collaborative effort between the University of California San Diego and the Harbin Institute of Technology in China led to the development of another prototype. This version leveraged an electromagnetic system to alter the shape of the lens, adjusting its focus. To achieve this, electrodes were strategically placed around the eyes, serving as triggers for the lens to modify its focus based on the user's gaze direction. 

Disruptive impact

Telescopic contact lenses can be helpful in managing eyesight-related issues such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This condition occurs when an area in the retina called the macula, which is responsible for central vision, is damaged. People with AMD are unable to see fine details no matter how far or how close they are to an object. Fortunately, telescopic contact lenses may allow AMD sufferers to zoom in and identify details of what is being viewed. 

In military operations, telescopic contact lenses could emerge as a vital tool for combat personnel, facilitating the detailed examination of texts and objects situated at a distance on the battlefield. By utilizing the zoom function of these lenses, officers can gain a closer view of specific areas or items, potentially accessing critical information. Moreover, this technology may enhance safety measures by providing soldiers with the ability to assess situations from a safer distance.

In time, this increased research activity around enhanced contact lenses may lead to contact lenses that can monitor blood sugar or inform patients when they require prescribed allergy medication. Meanwhile, wearable tech firms, like Innovega, are exploring electronic lenses that enable augmented reality applications and GPS navigation. Such digital lenses could be developed to the degree that they provide people with information upon request or to plug into other data systems, such as the metaverse, so that the user is completely immersed in a mixed media environment. 

Implications for telescopic contact lenses 

Wider implications of telescopic contact lenses may include:

• The integration of telescopic contact lenses in the military sector for surveillance and espionage activities, potentially leading to a shift in defense strategies and tactics.
• Surgeons adopting telescopic contact lenses to aid in performing surgeries with greater precision, which may result in improved outcomes for patients and potentially foster advancements in medical procedures.
• A noticeable decline in the use of traditional eyeglasses as consumers might prefer the enhanced functionalities offered by telescopic lenses for traveling or working.
• Athletes in select team sports embracing these lenses to enhance precision in catching and throwing actions, possibly leading to a transformation in training methodologies and a reevaluation of the skills deemed valuable in these sports.
• Governments potentially crafting policies to regulate the production and use of these lenses, aiming to balance technological advancements with safety and ethical considerations.
• New business models centered around the customization and personalization of telescopic contact lenses.
• A shift in demographic preferences with younger generations possibly being more inclined to adopt this technology.
• Environmental concerns arising from the disposal of these high-tech lenses, potentially leading to a surge in waste and the need for sustainable disposal solutions.
• Educational institutions possibly incorporating these lenses into learning environments to aid students with visual impairments, potentially fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for learners.

Questions to consider

• How might you use telescopic contact lenses in your personal or work life?
• What do you think are the other potential benefits of telescopic contact lenses?