Google Announces Blood Glucose Monitoring Contact Lens

20 Jan 2014 --- American internet search giant Google have announced that they are testing a "smart contact lens" with the potential to monitor the wearer's blood glucose levels. Using a combination of miniaturised electronic chips and sensors, the lens is designed to analyse the glucose levels in the wearer's tears.

The project co-founders say that this is "early days", and that "there is a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use". More information can be found on Google's official blog.

Simon O'Neill, Diabetes UK's Director of Health Intelligence, said, "Many people with Type 1 diabetes and some with Type 2 diabetes monitor their blood glucose level to help manage their condition and so help reduce their risk of health complications such as amputation and blindness.

"Because of this, we welcome any investment in new technology that might one day have the potential to make this easier for people, or to offer them more choice. But it is important to stress that without us knowing much more about this technology, we have no idea how likely it is to develop into something that is routinely available or how long this might take to happen."

Source: Diabetes UK