Amid the influx of intelligent eyewear and facial devices at CES, conventional eyeglasses have seen minimal evolution across centuries of use. The most notable advancement remains the introduction of progressive multifocal designs that merge near and distance vision corrections, dating to the mid-20th century. This backdrop explains why IXI, a developer of self-focusing eyewear, believes an update is overdue.

Following the reveal of a lightweight 22-gram prototype frame, the company is demonstrating operational lens prototypes in Las Vegas, highlighting a pivotal element of its adaptive eyewear that might transform the sector.

Targeted at presbyopia, the vision decline impacting a majority of individuals past age 45, IXI's eyewear employs sensor-free ocular monitoring paired with adjustable liquid crystal optics. These activate automatically as the device senses changes in gaze direction, allowing seamless transitions between distance and near visions without the dual zones of bifocals or progressives. Importantly, the frames remain slim and resemble standard eyewear, akin to contemporary smart glasses.

During a display of sample frames and optics, CEO and co-founder Niko Eiden outlined the system's dual components. Initially, it monitors eye positions via LEDs and photodiodes positioned along the lens perimeters. These emit near-infrared light that reflects off the eyes, capturing minute shifts and convergence patterns during close-up viewing.

By relying on infrared signals through a limited set of analog inputs, the setup demands far less energy than camera-driven alternatives, which process vast image data at high frame rates. Beyond motion detection, it registers blinks and stare points, all while drawing just 4 milliwatts.

Key elements like storage, detectors, control circuits, and the monitoring module reside in the bridge and the temple sections near the joints. The demo model incorporates power cells comparable to those in AirPods, indicating the compact scale of the hardware. A charging connector hides within the left temple's pivot, though this prevents use during recharges. IXI claims one full charge sustains operations for an entire day.

The prototypes examined weighed about the same as typical heavy-duty prescription glasses. As initial versions, they blend seamlessly with ordinary frame styles.

Adjustments to the bridge pads and temples now better suit varied facial structures. Testing beyond Finland to the UK highlighted differences in head shapes, a point Eiden noted candidly despite the reviewer's British background.

Eiden showcased sample optics comprising stacked liquid crystal films over a clear indium tin oxide conductor. Remarkably slim, these layers transform rapidly into corrective forms, creating an illusion of effortless change. Their minimal thickness allows incorporation into custom prescription blanks and supports curvature adjustments for astigmatism.

Such adaptive optics could end the reliance on varied eyewear types like bifocals or gradients. Should power deplete, they default to basic single-vision mode without near-field enhancement. Additionally, the detection precision yields data on wellness issues, including dryness, concentration levels, and even spinal alignment via head turns. Eiden noted that blink patterns vary with attention, distraction, or stress, feeding insights to a linked mobile application.

In theory, future iterations might fine-tune corrections in real time, extending past initial sight aids—for instance, amplifying focus as ocular strain builds over hours.

IXI is aligning resources for commercialization, pursuing required health approvals and scaling production. It has collaborated with Swiss fabricator Optiswiss for lens output. Eiden indicated the debut offering will target premium markets, distributed via established vision specialists, with a projected release in the coming year.