Age, vision defects and conditions such as cataracts can make it difficult to focus at different distances. To correct these problems, people have been using eyeglasses and contact lenses for decades. However, these solutions can be uncomfortable and limit freedom of movement. A team of French scientists recently developed a new technology that could revolutionize vision correction: the spiral contact lens.
How does the spiral lens work?
The spiral contact lens features an innovative design that uses a principle called "optical vortex". The surface of the lens is characterized by a spiral that gives a rotation to the light entering the eye. This rotation allows you to correct optical aberrations and correctly focus images at different distances, eliminating the need for multiple lenses.
“Unlike existing multifocal lenses, our lens works well in a wide range of light conditions and maintains multifocality regardless of pupil size,” he says Bertrand Simon of the Laboratory of Photonics, Numerical Sciences and Nanosciences (LP2N) in France, author of the research that I link to you here.
What are the benefits?
The advantages of "spiral" lenses are several:
- Correction of multiple visual defects: The spiral lens can correct presbyopia, myopia, astigmatism and other visual defects in one solution.
- Better vision in all light conditions: The spiral lens offers crisp, clear vision in any light condition, both day and night.
- Greater comfort: Spiral contact lenses are soft and comfortable to wear, and do not cause visual distortions in the periphery of the visual field.
What are the applications?
Spiral contact lenses are still in development, but their potential applications are vast. In addition to correcting visual defects, they could be used for:
- Ophthalmic surgery: they could be used to improve the results of surgeries such as cataracts and LASIK.
- Virtual and augmented reality: they could improve image quality in VR and AR headsets, offering a more realistic and immersive experience.
- Photography and drones: they could be used in cameras and drones to improve image quality and depth of field.
Spiral lenses: in summary
The first prototypes of spiral contact lenses were successfully created and in vitro tests demonstrated the effectiveness of the technology. Obviously, further clinical studies are needed to evaluate their safety and effectiveness in a real-world context.
To reach commercialization, these lenses will have to overcome some obstacles, including:
- Production costs: Spiral contact lenses are currently very expensive to produce.
- Adaptation difficulty: Some people may have difficulty adjusting.
- Regulatory approval: Spiral contact lenses will need to get regulatory approval before they can be marketed.
Despite the challenges, however, spiral contact lenses have the potential to revolutionize vision correction. Research and development in this field is constantly evolving and can be expected to become a reality for many people in the coming years.
It is appropriate to say it: we will see.
