Contact lenses of the future

Google is currently developing contact lenses that monitor blood sugar levels, providing a potential future alternative to finger-prick blood tests for diabetic patients.

The “smart contact lenses,” embedded with a microchip, would measure glucose levels in tears and then transmit the information to a mobile device or a physician, according to iHealthBeat.com. The lenses could serve as a warning system, as well: Google is looking at using LED lights to warn patients when their glucose levels have reached certain thresholds.

Google has already tested the prototype in clinical research trials and is currently discussing further steps with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to Modern Healthcare.

“There’s still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use,” Google said in a statement. “We plan to look for partners who are experts in bringing products like this to market.”