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Portable ophthalmodiagnostics: OLED right in the lens
Last reviewed: 18.08.2025
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Korean engineers have embedded an ultra-thin OLED directly into a soft contact lens and taught it to work completely wirelessly. Such a lens shines on the retina like a mini-Ganzfeld and allows electroretinography (ERG) to be performed literally “put on and done”: without a stationary lamp, wires, or a dark room. A demonstration of the technology was published in ACS Nano.
Why is this important?
Classic ERG is a special setup, a darkened room, and not the most pleasant procedure. If the light source “moves” directly to the eye, diagnostics will become simpler, quieter, and more mobile — from the emergency room to a home visit. In addition, the “lens-flashlight” opens the way to other tasks: light therapy, delivery of visual information (AR), and analysis of ocular biosignals.
How the "lens-lantern" works
- The light is produced by an OLED film with a thickness of ~12.5 microns — 6–8 times thinner than a human hair. Unlike “point” hard LEDs, OLED is an area and uniform source, so it does not need high brightness and it heats up less.
- Power and control are wireless: the receiving antenna and chip are integrated into the lens, and the transmitter can be worn, for example, in a sleep mask; communication operates at 433 MHz.
- "Soft" light is sufficient. At a brightness of only ~126 nits, the lens elicited stable ERG responses no worse than commercial sources.
What the tests showed
- Equivalence to diagnostics. In animal models, the OLED lens reliably evokes ERG signals comparable to classical equipment.
- Thermal safety. The surface temperature of the rabbit eye did not exceed 27 °C — the cornea does not overheat. The lens worked stably in a humid environment close to the clinic.
- Full autonomy. Wireless mode with a mask-controller and possible connection with a smartphone is demonstrated "live".
How is this better than the old way?
- No dark room or bulky lamp. The patient only needs to put on the lens - fewer failures due to fatigue and blinking, easier for children and the elderly.
- Uniform "soft" lighting. Area OLED reduces local heating and brightness requirements - less risk of discomfort.
- Portability and field scenarios. Can be used at the bedside, in screening or on-site.
What's next?
The authors talk about the world's first wireless OLED lens as a platform: diagnostics can be supplemented with retinal light stimulation, AR indication or accommodation training for myopia. But clinical trials on humans, long-term safety (wearable for hours/days), sterilization standards and regulatory approval are ahead.
Source: Sim JH et al. Wireless Organic Light-Emitting Diode Contact Lenses for On-Eye Wearable Light Sources and Their Application to Personalized Health Monitoring, ACS Nano (online May 1, 2025)