Xpanceo Unveils Prototypes of Wirelessly Powered Smart Contact Lenses

Xpanceo, which has been operating since 2021, aims to reimagine the image of a modern electronic device: instead of smartphones and laptops, the company is developing smart contact lenses. The company demonstrated several prototypes of such devices at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025.

One of the biggest challenges of any wearable device, especially one as small as a contact lens, is the power source. Xpanceo has solved this problem with a wireless power supply system — the source is a portable accessory that can be carried in a purse or pocket; in size and shape, it resembles a regular contact lens case. Despite the advanced technology used here, the lens remains lightweight and flexible. The manufacturer has taken the safety aspect into account: the radiation level is comparable to that of regular wearable devices, and concerns about a gadget with a power supply located so close to the eye are groundless, Xpanceo assures.

The second prototype demonstrates the potential of solutions for monitoring health indicators. Invasive procedures, including blood sampling, are not required – a biosensor with nanoparticles measures parameters directly from tear fluid: glucose levels, cortisol, estrone, progesterone, testosterone, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3, E and D. By constantly monitoring the levels of these substances, such a lens can transform the mechanism of personal health management – people will be able to promptly identify problems and apply personalized approaches to health improvement.

The third prototype is aimed at solving the problem of glaucoma, which is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Early detection of abnormalities and continuous monitoring of the indicators are crucial to preventing vision loss due to glaucoma. At MWC 2025, Xpanceo presented a lens that provides continuous IOP monitoring – the prototype was demonstrated using a model of a human eye. The lens contains a nearly invisible optical pattern that moves in response to changes in IOP. The user scans this pattern using a mobile app with artificial intelligence and receives accurate IOP readings in real time. The system can improve the early detection of glaucoma and ongoing treatment of the disease through timely intervention.

In addition to the three main ones, Xpanceo demonstrated two additional prototypes. AR Vision, as you can guess from the name, opens access to augmented reality technology, but instead of a bulky headset, it is implemented directly on a contact lens with a micro display. It projects digital information directly onto the retina, creating a mixture of digital and physical worlds for the user. In practice, such a device can be used for tasks such as navigation, real-time information output, and completely new forms of digital interaction.

The fifth prototype is an intelligent contact lens for reading information. It is equipped with a built-in antenna for wireless data transmission and flexible electronic components ready for mass production. In real time, the lens transmits data to an accompanying device. The gadget acts as a charger and a computing module: the lens can remain compact and convenient, delegating resource-intensive tasks to an external gadget. Users see the biometric information collected by the lens directly on their smartphone – the data is relevant and useful.

Xpanceo showcased a number of revolutionary technologies that were used in the creation of its prototypes. In particular, this is a projector smaller than 0.5 mm in size, capable of delivering visual information and remaining compact enough to serve as a component of a comfortable-to-wear contact lens. These are the world’s thinnest flexible 2D conductors that bend with the lens, ensuring its durability and the user’s comfort with it. These are highly sensitive IOP sensors that can detect the slightest changes in indicators and are compact enough to be integrated into the lens. Finally, these are nanoparticle-based biosensors – they measure biomarkers in tear fluid, reacting even to very low concentrations.

The most important consequence of all these innovations will be a paradigm shift in human interaction with computing devices. The best device, according to Xpanceo, is no device. A person no longer needs to type, move his or her fingers across touchpads, or speak — a simple glance is enough, for example. There is no need to take out a gadget to access information if it simply appears in the field of vision when needed. In other words, the interface between a person and a digital system is almost invisible, opening up ubiquitous and constant access to the digital world.