A new generation of high-tech eyewear is promising to transform the way people see the world. At the forefront is Finnish startup IXI, which has developed smart glasses equipped with liquid crystal lenses and eye-tracking technology that automatically adjust focus based on where the wearer is looking. These "autofocus" specs aim to eliminate the need for multiple pairs of glasses or the discomfort often associated with bifocal and varifocal lenses.
Unlike traditional glasses that rely on fixed lenses or segmented fields of vision, IXI’s innovation uses an electrical field to rotate liquid crystals within the lens. This changes how light passes through, effectively enabling a single pair of glasses to adjust for both near and far vision on the fly. The adjustment is triggered by built-in sensors that track eye movements and determine what the wearer is trying to focus on.
IXI's CEO, Niko Eiden, showcased the frames via video call, emphasizing their sleek, conventional design – a key factor in ensuring consumer acceptance. “Most people don't want to look like cyborgs,” he said, acknowledging the past failures of bulky tech eyewear such as Google Glass. “We need to make our products actually look like existing eyewear.”
The glasses are designed to help with age-related presbyopia and the growing global prevalence of myopia. Traditional solutions like bifocals and varifocals require users to look through specific regions of the lens, often causing discomfort or distortion. Autofocus glasses eliminate this by smoothly shifting the entire or part of the lens based on real-time visual demands.
Although early prototypes were described as "horrible" and “hazy,” recent iterations have demonstrated smoother transitions and better edge clarity in user trials. Participants were able to seamlessly shift focus from reading a page to viewing distant objects, with the lenses adjusting accordingly.
However, challenges remain. The glasses' fit must be precise due to the embedded electronics, and IXI offers only limited frame flexibility. The built-in battery lasts around two days and can be recharged overnight.
Despite the technological leap, IXI has not yet disclosed a commercial release date or final pricing, although estimates suggest the cost could be around £1,000. The company is preparing to announce further details later this year.
Experts have welcomed the concept but remain cautiously optimistic. Paramdeep Bilkhu from the UK’s College of Optometrists warned there is still insufficient evidence to confirm whether autofocus glasses are as effective as traditional ones, especially in safety-critical scenarios like driving. Optometry researcher Chi-Ho To from Hong Kong Polytechnic University raised similar concerns about delayed adjustments during precision tasks like surgery, though he supports the idea for general use.
IXI's initial models do not dynamically adjust the entire lens area, allowing users to glance over the focused region if necessary. Mr. Eiden emphasized that full-lens autofocus, if achieved, would raise further safety and performance considerations.
Other companies are also exploring the autofocus glasses market. UK-based Adlens previously released glasses in 2013 that allowed manual lens adjustment using fluid-filled membranes. Though successful with consumers, opticians were less enthusiastic, limiting their reach. Adlens is now working on fully automatic versions, but no launch timeline has been confirmed.
Vision correction tech continues to advance beyond autofocus. Prof. To has developed lenses with honeycomb-like rings that blur peripheral vision to slow myopia progression in children – already adopted in over 30 countries. Another British firm, SightGlass, employs contrast-reducing lenses with a similar goal.
Looking ahead, Prof. To hinted at a bold future ambition: glasses that not only stop but potentially reverse myopia progression. “There is growing evidence that you can do it,” he said, sparking hope that vision correction may soon become even more transformative.
With a global market ripe for disruption and rapid technological evolution, the rise of autofocus eyewear marks a significant shift in optical innovation, potentially reshaping how billions of people manage their vision.