Transition contact lenses available soon

November 11, 2009

Contacts lens wearers rejoice! Those who wear corrective lenses can now benefit from the same technology that prescription glasses have been offering for years. The Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapore has developed UV-responsive, or photochromic, contact lenses.

The contacts darken in the sunlight, much like transition lenses, MIT's Technology Review reports.

Scientists have been working on this technology for a while. When coating lenses in light-sensitive material, which is how transition eyeglasses are made, engineers had a hard time creating a uniform surface. They finally decided to try embedding the solution within the material of the contacts. Engineers claim that this technique will give the lenses a faster response to light than transition eyeglasses, according to the news source.

The lenses also boast UV protection, a selling point for those who are careful about their eye health. The American Optometric Association recommends that everyone, including children, sport eye wear with at least 99 percent UV protection whenever they're outside during the day.

For those who don't like to wear contacts, should make sure that prescription sunglasses and over the counter shades are labeled as UV protected before purchasing.