The future of eye care may soon fit right on your eye. Researchers from KAIST, along with ETRI and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, have developed the world’s first wireless OLED-based contact lens designed to diagnose retinal conditions—without the bulky machines or dark rooms we’ve always associated with such tests.
The new technology will replace the existing stationary, darkroom-based retinal testing method by incorporating an “ultrathin OLED” into a contact lens.
Retinal function testing is usually conducted through an electroretinography (ERG) machine that stays in one place and needs a pitch-dark room and patient cooperation to operating flawlessly. This procedure is nothing but a discomfort to patients, especially for children or the elderly.
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The contact lens contains an “ultrathin OLED” display—just 12.5 microns thick, about the width of a human hair. It emits uniform light across the retina, allowing doctors to capture accurate readings without the traditional darkroom setup. The lens also has a tiny wireless antenna and is paired with a sleep mask controller, creating a compact, portable testing kit that can even sync with smartphones.
Animal trials have shown that the lens works safely, generating minimal heat and performing well even in humid conditions. The result? A comfortable, user-friendly test that could be done in bright, open clinics instead of isolating exam rooms.
That convenience could be a game-changer for early detection. Many diseases such as diabetic retinopathy don’t show obvious symptoms until they’ve already caused damage. They can slowly and silently ruin the patient's vision before any symptom arises. Speedier tests usually increase the willingness of most people to undergo periodic examinations, thereby letting doctors identify the problem at an early stage when treatment can still be effective.
But the potential doesn't end at diagnosis. In the future, such lenses may even be adapted to treat myopia, monitor ocular cues of well-being, power AR experiences, or perhaps provide light-based therapy to sustain brain health.
The best part? They’re tiny and comfortable. The thin design means you can wear them without your vision being blocked or feeling any real discomfort, but they still deliver accurate results that doctors can trust.
It is a small tech with a big future that can bring smart healthcare right to your eyes, in the most comfortable way possible.
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