Better Eye Vision Now Seems Possible With New Contact Lenses

At the University of Washington impossible is nothing and scientists based on prior research have developed a prototype contact lens that is currently at a testing stage. The idea is to implement electronic connections, much like a chip, in the contact lens that will be able to give the eye further functions like the ability to zoom in on a distant object.

Eye features before only seen on RoboCoop and Terminator may now not be that far from reality. This bionic eye is believed to be able to fill many functions and have many practical uses. The contact lens could be used to play video games, drive your car, surf the web and much more. The possibilities are endless.

"People may find all sorts of applications for it that we have not thought about. Our goal is to demonstrate the basic technology and make sure it works and that it's safe," says Dr. Parviz, head of the project.

Successfully developing a product that consists of two complete different materials is not something to be done over night. The sensitive and fragile substances used to manufacture contact lenses are hard enough to manage in itself but to actually implementing electronic circuits in the lens demands both time and energy.

As Dr. Parviz declares above this project has so far only proven that it is possible. Whether or not this will result in a completely functional super-lens is for the future and hard-working people of the UW-group to decide.

Tested On Rabbits

The testing is based on placing the lens into a rabbit’s cornea for a period of 20 minutes. This was merely to see the reaction and measure the comfort of the rabbit. The tests were successful and now the research team at Washington University are looking forward to taking this project further and developing this super vision lens for humans.

Though nothing is certain yet much hope is put this new technology and has shown to be biologically compatible with rabbit eyes. If successful this would mean a great leap forward not only for the world of technology but also for the visually impaired. While the goal is set to primarily create new features to the eye this contact lens would also be used to correct and erase visual defects.