Contact Lenses That Adjust to Light

Imagine never having to shield your eyes from blinding sunlight, or feel the strain of eight-plus hours under fluorescent bulbs. That’s the allure of Acuvue’s forthcoming line of light-sensitive, vision-correcting contact lenses (developed in partnership with Transitions Optical). Each contains a filter that senses the amount of light entering your eye and automatically darkens or lightens to maximize comfort. “We had to overcome a huge technology hurdle to make this happen,” says David Turner, head of contact-lens research and development at Acuvue’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson Vision. The contacts, which have been in the works for over a decade, received FDA clearance in April. Turner expects them to go on sale early next year. —Jamie Ducharme