Google's glucose-monitoring contact lens is still alive and kicking, despite the founder of the project leaving the company to work at Amazon. The Financial Times reports that Google is teaming up with Novartis, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, to make the smart contact a reality. Novartis will license, develop, and commercialize the lenses via its eyecare-focused Alcon division, which makes the "Dailies," "Air Optix," and "Fresh Look" contact lenses.
The two companies have a few ideas for a smart contact lens. The first is the original glucose-monitoring lens, which could detect a diabetic person's glucose level via his or her tears. The second is an "autofocus" lens for people who have difficulty switching between near and long-distance vision. Novartis said this focusing problem affects 1.7 billion people, with Joe Jimenez, Novartis' chief executive, calling it "the holy grail for vision care."
While Google's original announcement had an air of unbelievability to it, teaming up with one of the biggest players in pharmaceuticals makes the smart lenses seem a lot closer to reality. Jimenez said he would be "disappointed" if the smart contact was not ready for commercialization within five years.
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