The Future of Contact Lenses – Part 3
As mentioned previously, the problem with a lot of futuristic based contact lenses is that our technology is currently as advanced as many peoples’ ideas – and some experts believe it may take longer than expected for them to both be on the same level.
Daniel Palanker, a Stanford University expert on retinal implants argues a very interesting point. Palanker explained that most people’s eyes cannot focus properly or effectively on anything closer than 25 cm and no matter how much technology is produced and developed, as it’s an issue with the actual eye and not technology, it could be a major problem. Because of this, he is questioning many people’s future contact lens ideas, explaining that the quality of image would be so poor it would be somewhat pointless in creating the contact lens.
Of course, as with most stumbling blocks, there are ways and means round it. One Simon Fraser University professor has replied to Palanker’s theory, explaining that the 25 cm problem is only an issue when light enters the eye at the ‘normal’ angle. However, if it could be adjusted so it entered at a different angle, there is a very high likelihood that this issue could be solved.
Even if Palanker was correct and there was no way around the issue, that doesn’t mean these contact lenses cannot be put to good use elsewhere. For example, the quality of image isn’t a factor when creating contact lenses for medical reasons other than correcting the wearer’s vision – such as sending data on people’s health back to their GP via the contact lens or, as mentioned previously, administering regular dosages of medicine.