5 Eyeglasses Innovations on the Horizon

After not changing much at all since the 19th century, the process of vision correction using eyeglasses has been progressing in leaps and bounds in recent years. Check out these exciting concepts, available very soon or even right now!

1. No More Reading Glasses or Bifocals

Until now, an inevitable and dreaded rite of passage into middle age has been the need for reading glasses, or even worse, bifocals. Trufocals or Superfocus glasses aim to change the need for multiple glasses and lenses by use of fluid-filled lenses behind the usual corrective lenses. The extra lens is adjustable by means of a slider on the nose piece, allowing the user to sharpen focus for different focusing distances.

When available: Now, but be prepared to pay significant money–the Superfocus glasses retail for $895.

2. Hi-definition eyeglasses

Recent computer technology allows far more customized lens making than formerly, creating a lens that is adapted not only for the overall vision correction but individually designed for the contours of your particular eye. The same wavefront computer mapping technology used to map the eye for LASIK surgery is used to create the lenses.

When available: Now, at a cost of 25 – 30% more per lens than traditional eyeglasses.

3. Inexpensive Vision Correction for the Developing World

Josh Strickland is a physicist by education, but since 1985 has worked on the problem of having too many people needing glasses in the developing world, and too few optometrists. His solution: glasses with DIY adjustment. The user simply puts on the glasses and turns a knob on each lens until he or she sees clearly. Then the adjustment is locked in using a screwdriver.

When available: About 30,000 in use in pilot programs; aim is 1 billion by 2020.

4. Night Vision Glasses

With the same thin film technology used in flat screen TVs, scientists have developed a light, inexpensive filter that can convert ultraviolet to visible light. This would be useful not only in eyeglasses but also on cell phone cameras and even car windshields.

When available: Technology exists but still in the laboratory stage.

Pros
-no need for additional LEDs
-lighter weight than LEDs


5. Glasses with OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Technology for Data Display

How would you like to be able to access computer data, communications, maps and more in a hands free display right in front of your eyes? Students at a technical institute in Germany are working on a system to do just that. It would include an eye tracking system that would allow the user to operate menus using eye movement.

When available: In early lab development stage but looks promising.