Can you imagine using contact lenses that make you in the dark? Well, this might sound futuristic, but it’s becoming a reality. Infrared light has always been a scientific matter and we knew it was used in specific tools, but not anymore. We would be able to see infrared light with no need of surgery nor any technology device, just some contact lenses (very special ones).
If you ever dreamed of having superpowers as a child, that time has arrived. You will feel like you have a supernatural power that nobody has, at least if they don’t buy these contact lenses.
I know you want to know more about this invention and when they could be used. So, let’s check it out!
Future contact lenses
Some scientists have come up with very special contact lenses that allow you to see infrared light, that light no human sight can see without the help of a scientific tool. Well, this is closer to becoming a reality since they are being developed in laboratories.
What’s the infrared light?
This light is out of our sight capacity because we can’t see the color after red, which is where the infrared light is located.
It is used in things like thermal cameras, military night vision tools or biomedical devices. Not only infrared light is in technology, but we can find it in nature too. Although we can’t see it, it is felt through the heat so anything that has been exposed to the heat of the sun will have that light.
UCLs, the new contact lenses
UCL (Upconversion Contact Lenses) is the name for these futuristic contact lenses. They transform the infrared light inside our eyes so that we are able to perceive it.
They contain biocompatible material and active nanoparticles which are the ones in charge of using these contact lenses without any cable, battery or even glasses.
How can the infrared light be transformed in such small material? Well, these contact lenses have some specific elements that make this transformation work. Those elements are: sodium fluoride and gadolinium nanoparticles with erbium, ytterbium and gold. I know these sounds like nothing for us, but they are the ones that absorb the infrared light to transform it into one that humans can see.
Testing the UCLs
These contact lenses have already been tested in mice and humans to see if they properly work and have a real experience. So, let’s see how these testing were.
They started with mice and they showed reactions to the infrared light even though the animals had their eyes covered. So, they had good results that led them to try these lenses with humans.
Voluntaries were selected for the testing and it also worked. Humans could see the infrared light even in an absolutely dark room. So, not only we could perceive that light with our eyes open, but also closed!
When would these contact lenses be available to buy?
Well, there is not a set date yet because scientists are still analyzing them to make them as safe for the human eye as possible, and they also want them to be capable of being used in many situations.
For now, these lenses can detect strong infrared light and the view is not very clear yet. So, they need more time to fully develop this invention.
Scientific developments like these contact lenses could mean the future of our sight. Not only they could be used for our everyday life, but also for emergencies. Imagine there is a fire, the emergency team can easily find affected people because human bodies emit this infrared light. So, inventions like this are a positive aspect of the technology advances for human lives. Aren’t you curious about using these lenses? I mean, having the opportunity to see in the dark would be fascinating.