Google patents injectable smart lens to cure near-sightedness in eyeball

By Steve Pak, | April 30, 2016

Google Artificial Lens Patent

Google Artificial Lens Patent

Google's new patent published on April 28, Thursday shows a computerized lens that would replace the original eye lens to cure short-sightedness. It builds on the Alphabet company's past research for developing smart contact lenses such as for measuring blood sugar levels in tears. The new device that could  replace laser surgery would contain tiny parts including electronic lens, sensors, radio, storage, and battery.

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Google's digital lens would be powered wirelessly with an "energy harvesting antenna." An external gadget would connect with the computer eyeball and communicate via a radio. Meanwhile, the "interface device" includes the processor to do computing, according to 9to5Google.

The smart lens kit would be injected into the regular eyeball as a liquid then become solid after it is in the eye. After solidifying the gadget would work like a natural human lens by changing shape to focus images.

Owners of the smart lenses will have to wear/carry an external device. It would likely use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to do calculations and send instructions to the artificial lens.

The new device would function by helping light focus onto the retina, which would result in the correction of bad vision.

Many of Google's patented ideas have never become actual products. It is unclear if the company will produce the electronic lens to cure near-sightedness but it is possible.

In the past Google has worked on other technology for eyeballs. In early 2014 it introduced the concept for Google Contact Lens that measured blood sugar levels in tears to help diabetes patients.

The smart contact lens is now part of the Alphabet division Verily that focuses on life sciences. It is likely that the new vision correction  device would also be developed by Verily.  

In related news, Japan's Tomioka Silk Mill is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has launched a new tour that includes smart glasses. Visitors can wear the high-tech eyewear at different locations to view computerized images of workers at the silk production site that opened in 1872.      

The virtual tour includes a 360-degree view of the silk mill and earphones to listen to a commentary, according to The Japan Times. The silk mill was added to the UNESCO list in June 2014.

Here's an update on Gogole's smart contact lens:


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