Scientists Create Contact Lenses That Unlock Infrared “Super-Vision”

Chinese scientists have developed transparent contact lenses that enable wearers to see near-infrared light while maintaining normal vision—without external power, The Guardian reported. The breakthrough, published in Cell, uses embedded upconversion nanoparticles to convert imperceptible infrared wavelengths into visible colors (red/green/blue).

In tests, wearers decoded infrared Morse code and detected light direction, with performance improving when eyes were closed (reducing visible-light interference). Led by Prof. Tian Xue, the team adapted their earlier retinal-injection method for mice into a non-invasive human design.

While current lenses can’t detect natural infrared or thermal radiation, future versions with enhanced nanoparticles may expand applications—from aiding color blindness to covert messaging. “We’re rewriting perception’s rules,” said Xue.