An international team, including researchers from Surrey University in the UK and Harvard in the US, has developed an ultra-thin sensor for use in ‘smart’ contact lenses.  

The sensor detects light, glucose and temperature, for diagnosing potential corneal disease, said researchers. Study lead, Dr Shiqi Guo from Harvard, said, "Our ultra-thin sensor layer is different from the conventional smart contact lenses, with their rigid or bulk sensors and circuit chips sandwiched between two contact lens layers. This new layer could instead be mounted onto a contact lens maintaining direct contact with tears, thanks to its easy assembly, high detection sensitivity, good biocompatibility and mechanical robustness.” The MoS2 transistors-based serpentine mesh sensor can be mounted onto the inner surface of a contact lens, allowing direct contact with tears without interfering with blinking or vision, he explained. 

Lenses could monitor multiple biomarkers

The study’s co-author, Dr Yunlong Zhao from Surrey University’s Advanced Technology Institute, said, "The Covid-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the entire scientific community, with many of us asking how our work could help those suffering from similar future medical emergencies. We are confident that devices that utilise our sensor layer system could be used as a non-invasive way to help monitor and diagnose people's health." 

The full study was published in Matter.