Hydrogel-based smart contact lens for enhanced functional applications

The human eye emerges as a vital sensory organ in the visual system, harboring a wealth of physiological data and playing a crucial role in overall well-being. The demand for smart contact lenses (SCLs) has transcended the mere correction of vision. There is an increasing desire for these devices to enable non-invasive and continuous monitoring of a spectrum of physical and biochemical parameters, as well as to serve as a platform for drug delivery to address ocular pathologies. In the era of the “Metaverse” concept, augmented reality and visual tracking technologies have emerged as transformative trends to drive technological innovation. This review mainly discusses the development status and future opportunities of SCLs from the perspective of material manufacturing, energy supply, wireless transmission, integrated technology, device applications, and commercialization. It thereby provides the prospects for further developments of SCLs in the fields of intelligent medicine and meta universe, holding the potential to offer users a richer and more convenient digital experiences in the future. An overview illustrating the main contents of this review, including material manufacturing, power supply, wireless transmission, integrated technology, device applications, and commercialization.