The invention of a wafer-thin battery with a highly unusual way of recharging has brought smart contact lenses a step closer to becoming a reality. The battery is just 0.2mm thick, fitting inside a standard contact lens that measures around 0.5mm thick. Its thin profile ensures comfort and fit, while its ability to recharge using tears makes it incredibly convenient.
This remarkable battery is the brainchild of Lee Seok Woo, a scientist and associate professor at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Singapore. Inspired by the smart contact lenses featured in the 2011 movie Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Lee embarked on this project to create a battery that would power such devices.
Unlike lithium-ion cells used in phones and smartwatches, this battery operates on a biocompatible saline solution, making it safe for use in contact lenses. While it can be recharged using wires, the glucose coating on the lens reacts with the saline solution to generate power. This method is similar to how contact lenses are stored in saline solution, making it a familiar and convenient charging method.
But that’s not all. The battery can also be charged while in your eye, as tears contain glucose. So, the more you cry, the more your smart contact lens battery will recharge. This unique feature promises to make for an intriguing advertising campaign when these smart lenses eventually hit the market.
However, it’s important to note that the battery is still under development and currently lasts only for a few hours on a single charge. Its power output is also insufficient to support a wireless connection or power any onboard storage, which would be essential for smart eyewear.
Nevertheless, the development of this tiny, superthin battery is a significant step forward in the quest to create smart contact lenses. We’ve heard about such technology for years, including early versions developed by Bausch + Lomb and showcased at CES 2021, as well as versions designed for medical purposes. And it’s not the first time that scientists have cited Mission: Impossible as an inspiration, as a professor from Nanjing University mentioned the movie while discussing battery-free eye-tracking smart lenses earlier this year.
While we eagerly anticipate the arrival of smart contact lenses, we can explore other innovative smart eyewear products like the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses, which offer a glimpse into the future of wearable technology. However, do keep in mind that you’ll need a USB C cable to recharge them.
