Google tests smart contact lens

Google is testing a smart contact lens that is designed to measure glucose levels in the tears of people with diabetes.

The latest output from Google's [x] lab — which is also responsible for the balloon internet project, Loon — incorporates a glucose sensor and wireless chip into a contact lens.

"It's still early days for this technology, but we've completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype," project co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz said.

"We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease."

The co-founders said prototypes are currently set up to generate glucose level readings from tears "once per second".

Because the researchers want the lens to act as an early warning system for the wearer, they are also exploring whether they can integrate "tiny LED lights" into the lens "that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds".

Google said it was "in discussions" with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and on the lookout for partners to assist with the project.