If you’ve been using the same basic glasses or contacts for years, you’ll be glad to know that new high-tech eyewear is on the way. Or, in some cases, it’s already here and on the market.
AI Smart Glasses From Google, Samsung, and Gentle Monster
Google recently announced that they’ll be collaborating with Samsung and Gentle Monster on new artificial intelligence eyewear.
What is intelligent eyewear? Google’s collaborations will focus on eyewear that takes pictures and interfaces with other devices, like a phone or a smart watch. You can expect to ask your audio-enabled glasses questions as you navigate a room, seek directions, or learn about what you’re seeing. For instance, you might ask, “Hey Google, is there a shoe store in this mall?” Or, “Show me the closest pizza place.”
How does Google’s intelligent eyewear compare to competitors like Meta and Even Realities?
We’ll know more once the new collaborations hit the market this fall. Google is currently a few years behind Meta, which entered the AI glasses space in 2023 with the Meta Ray-Bans. Current versions of Meta’s smart glasses include features like eight hours of recording time, 3K ultra HD, and open-air Bluetooth speakers. Like the Google versions, they also come with an AI assistant.
Meta’s AI glasses have long sparked concerns about privacy. Google has also reflected on its privacy policy as it gears up to release its own intelligent eyewear. The company plans to detail its updated privacy policy at a July event.
Even Realities’ G1 smart glasses also offer translation, navigation, and AI assistance, with new improvements expected in the G2. Both use a heads-up display (HUD) projected on the lens without cameras or speakers. But the G2 is sleeker and promises to overcome the software limitations of the G1.
What do Google and Gentle Monster’s AI Glasses look like?
Google is aiming for a fashion-forward look. The only photo they’ve released of the Gentle Monster lenses shows a sleek frame with oval lenses. However, there may be other variations by the fall release date.
The fact that Google is partnering with Gentle Monster shows that they’re thinking about the fashion side of smart glasses. Gentle Monster is a Korean brand known for its innovative styles. Curious to learn more about the brand? Check out this helpful overview of Gentle Monster eyeglasses.
Meta’s Ray-Bans and other collaborations with big brands in eyewear come in multiple styles and are usually considered fashionable as well as functional. Even Realities’ G2 is slimmer than the G1, and both are known to look like “normal” glasses, but may not be the height of fashion.
Auto-Focus Glasses from IXI Eyewear
Another new piece of eyewear tech that’s making headlines is the auto-focus glasses from IXI Eyewear. These aren’t your grandma’s bifocals. IXI’s auto-focus glasses can follow your eyes and adjust so you see clearly at different distances.
This technology is especially helpful for people with multiple vision challenges. For instance, some people with presbyopia (the age-related loss of flexibility in the eyes) experience difficulty with up-close activities like reading. At the same time, they may also have challenges with seeing objects at a distance.
What are the advantages of auto-focus glasses over progressive lenses?
Progressive lenses (which offer a smoother transition than old-fashioned bifocals) have long been the preferred solution for presbyopia, but some users have difficulty adjusting to them. They are also limited, only allowing you to see clearly through the portion of your vision that the lenses cover.
With progressives, you may still have difficulty with peripheral vision or visual “swim” at the edges. And while progressives offer a smoother transition than bifocals, for some users, it isn’t smooth enough.
Auto-focus glasses address these problems by using microcircuitry that tracks where your eyes are looking. The lenses then adjust to give you the clearest image, no matter where you’re looking, close up or far away.
What do auto-focus glasses look like?
The good news is that auto-focus glasses are designed to look exactly like regular eyeglasses, so you don’t need to worry about wearing a clunky or unattractive pair of specs to get improved function.
“Smart” Progressive Lenses
Don’t want to wait for the IXI release? Varilux currently offers a compromise with the XR series of eye-responsive progressive lenses. They work similarly to regular progressive lenses, but instead of a fixed transition from near to far, they respond to your eye movements.
They can provide up to a +.25 extended near-vision zone (depending on your personal prescription needs). The XR-Motion technology also promises precise positioning of focus zones and improved binocular vision.
Self-Lubricating Contact Lenses
Finally, let’s look at a new piece of contact lens technology.
Glasses work well for many people, but they aren’t right for everyone. If you prefer contact lenses, you may struggle with eye dryness. This is a common issue for contact lens wearers.
There are options like eye drops and lubricating contact lens solutions. These are temporary fixes, though, and you may get tired of constantly using them. If these don’t work well for you, biomimetic contact lenses could be an improvement.
Biomimetic lenses are designed to mimic the human eye. They attract water molecules while pushing away the bacteria, lipids, and proteins that can build up on typical contacts. They allow moisture to escape into the eye. Some also use hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture levels. These features create a soft surface that reduces friction with the eye, so you don’t have that “gritty” feeling you may have started to dread.
Two popular biomimetic brands are TOTAL30 from Alcon and Biotrue ONEday from CooperVision. Want to try these contacts out? You can find these brands and many other affordable contact lens options at online eyewear retailer EZContacts.
