Google developing lenses to monitor, detect diabetes

Google has announced that it is testing contact lenses that monitor individuals' blood sugar levels, potentially eliminating daily finger-prick tests for patients with diabetes.

The "smart contact lenses" measure glucose levels in tears using a microchip embedded in the contact. The lenses then transmit the glucose data to a mobile device.

"We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material," according to a post on the company's website. "We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second. We’re also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we’re exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype," wrote Brian Otis and Babak Parviz, project co-founders.

The co-founders also wrote that they "plan to look for partners who are experts in bringing products like this to market. These partners will use our technology for a smart contact lens and develop apps that would make the measurements available to the wearer and their doctor."