Thu, 10 Jul 2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 'Autofocus' specs promise sharp vision, near or far

Start-up firms and researchers are working on lenses that can change their focus.
A Finnish company, IXI, has developed revolutionary glasses with auto-focus lenses that can adjust vision correction on the fly. The tech-packed specs contain liquid crystals that can be rotated using an electrical field, allowing for seamless transitions between near and far-sightedness. A built-in eye-tracker enables the glasses to respond to the wearer's changing needs in real-time. IXI's CEO, Niko Eiden, acknowledges the troubled history of tech-laden eyewear but is confident that their products will gain acceptance due to their sleek design and user-friendly interface. The market for eyewear technology is expected to grow as populations age and require corrective lenses. Presbyopia, a common age-related condition, is projected to become more widespread in the coming years. IXI's auto-focus lenses aim to address this issue by providing smooth transitions between near and far vision. The company has conducted trials with promising results, but experts caution that there may be limitations to their use, particularly for safety-critical tasks. IXI's frames are adjustable, but not to a great degree, due to the delicate electronics inside. The company hopes to offer a range of styles that will suit various face shapes. The battery life is estimated to last two days, and recharging can be done overnight while the wearer sleeps. The cost of IXI's auto-focus glasses has not been confirmed, but industry experts speculate that it may be in the thousands of pounds. Other companies, such as Adlens and SightGlass, are also working on similar technology, with varying degrees of success. Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed glasses with a honeycomb-like ring that slows down myopia progression by 60%. Another company, Vision, is seeking investment to further rollout fluid-filled adjustable lenses that can be tuned to an individual's prescription.
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