Table of Contents
While eyeglasses are the most common type of eyewear for vision correction and protection, contact lenses are also popular with individuals with refractive errors and eye conditions.
A 2023 report published by the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM) found that 3.6 million people in the UK wear contact lenses, which accounts for about 8.5% of the adult population.
Additionally, the contact lens market in the UK increased by 11.5% from 2021 and reached £366 million in 2022. This market value is segmented across contact lens types, such as daily disposable lenses and weekly and monthly silicone hydrogel lenses. Nonetheless, the growth in sales and adoption of contact lenses will likely be sustained as researchers and manufacturers continue to invest in technological advancements, with the most notable innovations outlined below.
Contact lenses with nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science and engineering that involves manipulating atoms and molecules at the nanoscale, and has various applications in healthcare and medicine. A previous post explained that nanotechnology can be used for drug delivery, enhancing efficiency and minimising side effects by targeting certain cells or tissues.
A new study area in contact lens technology is the development of drug-loaded nanoparticles that can be incorporated into hydrogel lenses. Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) found that these smart contact lens systems can increase bioavailability and therapeutic effects — making them suitable for treating eye conditions like glaucoma, which require sustained drug delivery.
Bandage contact lenses with new material
Ocular drug delivery through contact lenses can also be achieved through the development of a new lens material. Specifically, a cross-disciplinary team at the University of Waterloo transformed gelatin methacrylate, a collagen derivative, into a biomaterial for drug-delivering contact lenses.
Since collagen is a protein naturally found in the eye, the lenses’ collagen-based materials can improve healing for corneal wounds and abrasions. Compared to one-time antibiotic applications, these contact lenses are also more effective since they can release the drug in a controlled manner for sustained eye treatment.
Contact lenses with blue-light protection
Besides enhancing the treatment of eye conditions, contact lenses can also provide increased vision protection in daily life by blocking a significant percentage of harmful blue light, which can increase the risk of eye strain and retinal damage. Blue light can come from natural sunlight, as well as artificial sources like electronic devices.
In this case, the selection of contact lenses online at Vision Express includes brands that do not only cater to vision needs in terms of single-vision, astigmatism, and multifocal prescriptions. One of these is Acuvue, whose lenses are integrated with the OptiBlue light filter to block about 60% of blue-violet light. These blue-light-filtering contact lenses thus benefit individuals with outdoor- or digital-oriented lifestyles.
AR contact lenses
Lastly, contact lenses can be incorporated with the emerging technology of augmented reality (AR) to provide immersive and realistic experiences without the use of third-party devices like headsets. The smart contact lenses developed by Mojo Vision feature hard lenses with microLED displays, allowing the wearable technology to enhance vision and transmit data directly to the user. Although the product is yet to be launched for mainstream use, Mojo Vision has announced that the prototype is ready for real-world testing.
Overall, contact lens technology has a promising future as lenses are no longer just for vision correction but can also aid in drug delivery, digital protection, and augmented reality experiences.
