Infrared lenses developed that allow vision even with eyes closed

In experiments conducted on mice, it was observed that mice wearing contact lenses could see near-infrared light in the dark without the need for any external power source. When the mice consciously avoided a box illuminated with infrared light, mice without contact lenses showed no difference.

“Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices that provide supervision to humans,” said Tian Xue, a neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China and lead author of the study. Xue noted that the technology could be used to transmit information in areas such as security, recovery, encryption and anti-counterfeiting.

The lenses are based on nanoparticles that absorb near-infrared light (800–1600nm) and convert it into visible wavelengths (400–700nm). The human eye can normally only perceive wavelengths between 380–750nm. This means that lens wearers can see infrared signals encoded in familiar colors, not ‘new’ colors.

According to Euronews, in human tests, participants were able to detect infrared vibrations in the style of Morse code and follow the direction of lights. Interestingly, the researchers found that participants' night vision improved when they closed their eyes. This is because infrared light can pass through their eyelids better than visible light, and the lids filter out glare, providing a clearer image.

The potential of the technology is not limited to night vision. Tian Xue said that this technology could offer a new solution for color blind individuals by converting red visible light into green light.