Scientists Create New Contact Lenses That Let You See in the Dark — Even With Your Eyes Closed

Before humans discovered fire about 400,000 years ago, most people lived half of their lives in the dark. The only source of light that allows human eyes to see during the night is the moon and the stars on a good, clear sky. Then we discovered fire, and thousands of years later, Thomas Edison invented the first lightbulb.

Since then, we have never had to worry about not seeing during the night, as we always had a way to see with the use of fire or light bulbs. However, scientists are currently developing new contact lenses that now let us see in the dark without the help of any visible light, from the moon, stars, fire, or light bulbs.

How It Works: Infrared Vision Through Nanotechnology

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have created a new infrared contact lens that enables people to see in complete darkness. These contact lenses perceive infrared light, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is normally invisible to the human eye, by utilizing nanoparticles that can absorb this type of light and emit it as visible light.

This provides a new alternative to night vision goggles or other technologies that are currently being used in various industries such as mining, military, and scientific research. Since it is a contact lens, it is more compact, and no power is required, making it a better choice for everyday life.

Read more: Phys.org

Enhanced Perception: Seeing With Eyes Closed

Superhuman Vision Now Possible: Scientists Create Lenses That See Infrared Light | GRAVITAS

The contact lens’s ability to let the user see even when their eyes are closed is because of the natural property of infrared light to penetrate the eyelid tissue. Visible lights have a hard time getting past our eyelids, as we evolved that way to be able to sleep better and protect our eyes from intense lights.

In the actual tests, the participants did not see the way they see when their eyelids are open, however, they can easily detect the flickering infrared lights and signals even when their eyes are closed. The infrared lights, as mentioned above, could penetrate the eyelids, then the contact lenses convert that into visible light with their nanoparticles. This increases the usage and potential of contact lenses in the future.

Potential Applications

It is already a good benefit to see in the dark, but what else can the new infrared contact lens contribute to our sense of sight? Well, if its nanoparticles are capable of converting various light into another form, changing its wavelength and microwaves, then it could possibly aid individuals with color blindness.

Humans see different colors on varying light wavelengths, and this contact lens can help people who are having a hard time seeing a particular color by adjusting the wavelength and transforming it into a more visible color to the eyes. So, now people will be able to see in the dark as well as see colors even better, and that is just the beginning.

Read more: Futurism

Future Developments: Improving Resolution and Sensitivity

One thing that these new contact lenses could do better is make it a contact lens that takes our own eyes’ limits further. With the nanoparticle technology the scientists have incorporated in these lenses, improving resolution and sensitivity might allow humans to see not only clearly by twice as well.

Most contact lenses only correct nearsightedness or astigmatism, and a few more eye problems, but increasing our vision pass the natural limits will be a challenge, but is probably the next step for our technological evolution as a species.

Creation of Contact Lenses That Grant Infrared Vision to Humans

Author's Final Thoughts

The scientist’s development of infrared contact lenses is so creative and necessary at the same time. This is because when we explore space, it will be filled with a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, and it will be best to be able to see through them all. Speaking of space, did you know that NASA discovered a new planet that might be made of diamonds? Read more below!

Read more: NASA’s Telescope Discovers a Planet That May Be Made of Diamond — 5 Times Larger Than Earth