Dubai's $40 million deep tech lab edges closer to next-generation contact lenses


Nick Webster
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Deep inside the $40 million project to develop next-generation bionic contact lenses, scientists have developed a new material primed to transfer information from a mobile phone directly on to eyeballs.

How humans engage with media could be about to change. As more is understood about the damage of excessive screen time on phones and laptops, biometric solutions are under development to limit the time spent staring at an LED screen.

While a brain-computer interface built by Elon Musk’s Neuralink Corp takes the idea to the extreme – by surgically attaching a neural interface to deliver actions through thought – a simpler biometric device could soon enter the mainstream.

The race is on to build and approve the first working contact lens that could replace most functions of a mobile phone. At Dubai Internet City in the shadow of tech giants Google, Dell and Huawei, the three-year-old start-up Xpanceo is looking to steal a march on its global competitors.

The company is working on developing its own invisible, weightless contact lens. With several prototypes already developed, the company’s latest contact lens is edging closer to human clinical trials within 18 months, which they hope will lead to eventual medical approval.

Its developers promise enhanced ocular powers like night vision, telescopic sight, health monitoring and a real-time media interface, once linked remotely to a small portable device. The company’s founder and managing partner Roman Axelrod said artificial intelligence is allowing tech companies to accelerate product development.

“We are not just a gadget company, we are also a deep tech company,” he said. “And, in order to create a gadget, we don't have anything left but to create our own, new materials. Previously, the components of those materials were selected manually by humans.

"We’ve trained a special AI algorithm that helps our scientists speed up that process.”

Materials of the future

An algorithm tells scientists the exact mix of materials required and in what quantities to allow conductivity through a silicon-like substance. It speeds up the process dramatically, saving what would probably be years of hard work to keep Xpanceo ahead of the curve.

Xpanceo founders Valentyn Volkov and Roman Axelrod are working on developing bionic contact lenses. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Xpanceo founders Valentyn Volkov and Roman Axelrod are working on developing bionic contact lenses. Chris Whiteoak / The National

“I would define the current state of the market as the dark ages of XR gadgets,” said Mr Axelrod, referring to devices using augmented and virtual reality. “We all know the next generation of computing is something that appears around you, it is spatial, operated by your eyes, voice or by gestures – and probably later by your mind.”

Tiny, micro-LED displays are the future of vision gadgets that bring high-resolution images with low power consumption, dramatically improving what we can view on wearable devices. It is a global $160 billion industry that is at the crossroads of disruption due to the rapid rate of AI-boosted development.

A key challenge facing scientists is how to create a bright display inside a micro-LED, due to the high current required. The US firm Mojo Vision was one of the first to develop a working "smart contact lens", with Xpanceo close to launching its own model to be tested on humans.

Dr Valentyn Volkov, co-founder of Xpanceo and scientific partner, said the key to success for any future product is in the materials used. “We use a laser-based technology to produce unique, very small nanoparticles that are about a thousand times thinner than a human hair,” he said.

"Those small materials are developed to be introduced into a wearable device in the form of a contact lens. Once we have this new material, we try to create a real working prototype of this tiny device to integrate inside the contact lens.”

A prototype of the contact lens. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A prototype of the contact lens. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A small order

Multiple prototypes have already been developed at the Dubai laboratory, to integrate microscopic technology into wearable lenses that will retain their use for sight correction. The material used is flexible but transparent, and small enough to contain electronic components.

“Once we feed it with an electromagnetic field, you can see it start to deliver images on to a small display integrated in the lens,” said Dr Volkov. “When the wearer is looking through the lens, they are simultaneously getting access to extended reality visual information.”

Device costs are yet to be determined, but Xpanceo expects them to be comparable to that of a phone for an annual supply of replaceable smart lenses. According to market analysts at Precedence Research, the global contact lens market was worth around $16.28 billion in 2023, and forecast to grow significantly to $26.51bn by 2033.

There are only currently only two kinds of smart lenses approved by the FDA, which slow myopia progression in children and darken automatically in sunlight, to reduce glare. Another expert was not convinced the smart lenses would not have a harmful effect on eyesight.

Dr Shaza Aljbaei, an ophthalmologist at Zulekha Hospital, said an over-reliance on smart lenses, if they become available, could pose problems for eye health.

“These futuristic contact lenses with a built-in visual display, or anything that produces display anywhere in the eye's vision, is still some way from being ready for consumers,” she said. “We already know that any prolonged use of contact lenses beyond treatment purposes is not preferred as it could cause multiple issues related to the cornea.”

Eye health

Although technology and gadgets have vastly improved capacity for learning and entertainment, they are taking a physical toll on health. Increased screen time in young people has resulted in a global surge in cases of myopia, a form of eye strain that leads to macular degeneration.

According to a report published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, projected global incidences of myopia are expected to exceed 740 million by 2050, with demand for optical enhancements also increasing. From eye conditions to sleep disruption and myofascial pain that can appear in muscle and shoulder tightness or tension headaches, reliance on visual technologies takes a toll on physical health.

Wearable devices in the form of glasses or contact lenses could help alleviate those issues, said one expert. “There's a lot of potential in this,” said Dr Borja Salvador, a consultant ophthalmologist at Barraquer Eye Hospital in the UAE.

Smart contact lens on display at Gitex. Pawan Singh / The National
Smart contact lens on display at Gitex. Pawan Singh / The National

“Smart lenses have been used in research to measure the intraocular pressure in the eye, or to try to measure the blood sugar levels. This sounds like science fiction, but we are developing technology that will probably allow us to have some kind of smart contact lenses that can give us a lot of information on other parts of our life.

“We need to limit the number of hours that we're spending on the computer, the screen, or the phone, because this will definitely induce an increase in myopia. Contact lenses are not in general recommended for young ages, unless there's a medical reason, and if so should always be under the guidance of an ophthalmologist or optometrist to avoid problems."

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

MATCH INFO

Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')

Germany 1
Ozil (11')

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Wednesday and the pair embraced but he failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

 

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.

'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
LIVING IN...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

Updated: November 16, 2024, 5:56 AM`