Paradigm of nanophotonics integrated smart contact lenses: A new frontier in wearable healthcare

Abstract

Nanophotonic contact lenses represent a revolutionary convergence of optics, electronics, and materials science, offering transformative solutions for personalized medicine and vision enhancement. These lenses integrate nanophotonic structures, biosensors, and wireless communication systems to enable real-time diagnostics, continuous health monitoring, and localized therapies. Key applications include non-invasive monitoring of blood glucose levels, intraocular pressure measurement for glaucoma management, and advanced drug delivery systems. Including innovative materials such as MXenes and plasmonic nanoparticles improves their functionality and provides unprecedented sensitivity and efficiency. In addition, synergy with artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) enables predictive analytics, adaptive therapies and seamless integration into connected healthcare ecosystems. Despite remarkable progress, challenges remain in optimizing manufacturing techniques, ensuring long-term biocompatibility, and achieving scalable manufacturing. Overcoming these hurdles is critical to moving smart contact lenses from laboratory prototypes to commercially viable solutions. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the current advances, challenges, and future directions in nanophotonic smart contact lenses, highlighting their potential to revolutionize personalized medicine and wearable technology. This work emphasizes the critical impact of smart contact lenses on redefining diagnostics, therapy, and beyond by highlighting multidisciplinary innovations and presenting a roadmap for future development. These changes herald a new era in healthcare, where real-time, non-invasive solutions become the norm, offering unprecedented benefits to patients and clinicians.