Google Tests Smart Contact Lenses Designed To Help Diabetics

Google is a company well-known for its bold ventures into different technologies. One portion of its vast resources has gone into the development of contact lenses that could prove to be a tremendous help to people suffering from diabetes. The company announced on its blog that it was testing prototypes that measure glucose levels in tears, and was exploring the possibility of integrating microscopic LED lights into the lenses so that wearers can be alerted to unacceptably high or low glucose levels.

The contact lenses developed by Google contain a minuscule wireless chip and a tiny glucose sensor placed between two layers of soft contact lens material. The company is conducting tests with prototypes capable of generating a reading every second. It might be possible to take the project further by turning the lenses into an early warning system. This could be achieved by fitting tiny LED lights onto the lenses so that they light up when glucose levels are above or below acceptable thresholds. Google added that the technology was still in its early days but numerous clinical research studies were making it possible to refine the prototype.

Diabetes is a common cause of eye damage and managing the disease appropriately can go a long way towards reducing this risk, as well as various complications affecting the heart and the kidneys. According to Google, this project is worth the effort considering what a massive problem diabetes has become on a global scale. It seems all the more important in light of comments from the International Diabetes Federation, which has warned that we are “losing the battle” against this disease.