Israeli startup Deep Optics is introducing Omnifocals, a futuristic pair of glasses that can automatically adjust optical power to let the wearer "see the world like they used to."
Now, it's no mystery that vision is usually the first to deteriorate, with people eventually developing presbyopia typically between the ages 40 and 50. So far, the only viable way to cope with the condition is to either get prescription glasses or undergo laser eye surgery, but it seems that another method will soon join that list.
How it works is pretty simple. Hidden inside the frame are two optical sensors that can continuously analyze the eyes' pupillary distance, which constantly changes whenever a person looks from one object to another. Next, the sensors will send information to the glasses' processing unit to let it know of the necessary adjustment. It will then deliver an electric current to the liquid crystal solution in the lenses, automatically adapting to the wearer's needs for the clearest vision possible.
"Our proprietary Liquid Crystal lens is large enough to cover the entire field of view of the eyeglasses and has the ability to electronically change its focal power. This allows for a clear view of both near and far objects without compromising the field of view," Deep Optics says.
Just to be clear, the user doesn't have to do anything, and everything occurs in real time.
"The user doesn't have to control it, doesn't have to look through a specific area of the lens. [They] just have to look through the glasses as they would with any glasses prior to that," Yariv Haddad, cofounder and CEO of Deep Optics, tells the MIT Technology Review.
For those who are concerned about how they'll look like, Omnifocals are compatible with an "endless variety of frame designs," according to the people behind it.
It's definitely an interesting idea that has a lot of potential in making it big in the consumer market, but Haddad says that there are still several wrinkles to iron out and it could take at least two years before the device hits the shelves.
While a pair of bifocals does the trick, Omnifocals take the vision game one notch higher. This could be the perfect type of wearable technology for people who are looking to improve their sight rather than their sleep.
