The infrared contact lenses come to show us in the dark, even with our eyes closed

In addition to myopia and astigmatism, we were unable to bear one day contact lenses To see, even when it is dark pesto. This was reported by researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, who created a prototype of contacted lenses A infra-redThat is, able to convert infrared light into that visible to our human beings. Without working and being transparent to work and be transparent, explain the authors of the studio Just published on CellThose they use can see both the infrared and the visible spectrum at the same time, which means a supervisory state.

Our eyes and infrared

The infra-redWe remember briefly, are electromagnetic radiation that have a larger wavelength than visible light and for this reason, imperceptible Before our eyes. Our opinion can in fact understand radiation, ranging from a wavelength between 400 and 700 nanometers (NM), while the infrared rays vary from 700 nanometers to a millimeter.

The new contact lenses

To develop the infrared contact lenses, the research team was used led by neuroscientist Tian Xue nanoparticles Able to absorb infrared light and convert it into visible wavelengths. In particular, they allow the detection of the “nearby infrared light“, The one in the interval 800-1600 Nm, so just further than what people can see. Rather, as we have already told you, the same research team had already shown how these nanoparticles allow the infrared view when injected into the retina From mice. To find a less invasive solution for us, the researchers combined the nanoparticles with flexible polymers and then combine them in standard contact lenses. After demonstrating their security, they tested the function Both with mice and with people.

Even with closed eyes

In experiments with people, researchers noted that infrared contact lenses have allowed participants in Detect blinking signals precisely that are comparable to the morse code And to observe the direction of the origin of the infrared light. “It is absolutely clear: without contact lenses the person can see nothing, but when he wears them, he can clearly the flicker of the infrared light“XUe commented. Not only that: the contact lenses even worked when the eyes were the eyes Closed. “We also discovered that when the subject closed his eyes, he was even better able to receive this trembling information, because the nearby infrared light eyelid More effective than visible light, so there was less interference with visible light “.

Potential applications

Although contact lenses have limitations, that is, they only detect infrared radiation that is projected by an LED light source, the search results open the way to the development of Portable devices Not invasively able to offer us a supervision. “This material offers numerous potential direct applications”, XUe has responded. “Infrared light can be used, for example, to send information in the field of security, medicine, coding or anti -control”. Because contact lenses still have limited capacity to record details, given their proximity to the retina, The team has also developed glasses that uses the same technologyAllowing those who tried to observe infrared information – high -resolution. “In the future, together with scientists of materials and optics experts, we hope to make contact lenses with a more precise spatial resolution and a larger one sensitivity“,” Xue concluded.