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| Image Source: mirror.co.uk |
Telescopic contact lenses made to help elite military forces could give the elderly superhero vision.
Scientists have been developing miniature binoculars that soldiers can pop on in the blink of an eye. Experts now say this technology can be adapted to aid OAPs with fading sight.
Dr Eric Tremblay of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, said yesterday the lenses “hold a lot of promise” for people suffering age-related macular degeneration and could help pensioners with tasks such as driving.
The super-lenses have an inner area that offers normal vision and an outer zone which magnifies by three times. They use sensors and polarised light to switch from normal to magnified vision with the aid of electronic glasses.
Dr Tremblay, who led the research, said: “People with AMD use their peripheral vision to see to the side of their blind spot. When they try to read it’s difficult because your visual acuity falls off away from the centre.”
The lenses could be rolled out to help the elderly within two years.
Trials have taken place with funding from the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Scientists are now trying to make the lenses more comfortable to wear.
Dr. Hitesh K. Patel is an ophthalmologist specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cataracts. Visit this Facebook page for more discussion on eye care.
