Key points from article :
Scientists have developed innovative contact lenses that let people see infrared light—a type of light normally invisible to the human eye. Unlike bulky night vision goggles, these lenses are transparent and require no power source, allowing wearers to see both normal colours and infrared simultaneously. The research, led by Professor Tian Xue from the University of Science and Technology of China, represents a step toward wearable devices that grant “super-vision,” potentially benefiting not only the general public but also people with colour blindness.
The key technology behind these lenses is upconversion nanoparticles, which absorb near-infrared light (just beyond human vision) and convert it into visible colours such as red, green, or blue. Previously, the team had given mice infrared vision by injecting these nanoparticles into their eyes, but this method was invasive. Now, by embedding the nanoparticles into soft contact lenses, people can perceive infrared signals—like Morse code flashes—from special LEDs and even detect the direction of infrared light.
Though the lenses don’t yet detect the very faint infrared light naturally emitted by the environment or provide thermal vision like some animals have, the researchers are optimistic. Published in the journal Cell, the study shows promise for improving the lenses’ efficiency, with future applications including private infrared messaging and new ways to help those with color blindness by translating unseen wavelengths into visible colours.
