For the past few years, I’ve been writing about how the fast paced field of wearable technology is intersecting with the optical industry, a phenomenon we call Eye2. It’s a great beat for a tech journalist to cover, because there are new developments occurring almost daily, some of them mind-boggling. From smart glasses that can help you navigate an unfamiliar city, send text messages, monitor your heart rate and count your steps to sunglasses equipped with high definition video cameras and Bluetooth connectivity to goggles that can deliver a fully immersive, interactive gaming or movie experience, wearable devices are creating new ways for us to “see” the world, and ourselves.

Just as wearables are starting to change the way we live and work, they are beginning to have an impact on eyecare as well. Lately, I’ve seen a growing number of wearable devices being used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Not surprising, some of these devices are based on the same technologies used in consumer products. For example, a company that makes active 3D glasses for watching movies has developed special electronic eyewear used for treating amblyopia. Another company has come up with a treatment for amblyopia using Oculus Rift, a cutting edge virtual reality goggle used for gaming. Yet another company is using eye tracking, a technology that has applications in everything from gaming to driving, to create a new type of pre-testing for eye exams.

If you’re interested in learning more about how wearables and related technology such as eye tracking are bringing a new dimension to eyecare, look for my special report in the upcoming July 15 edition of VM. You’ll get an inside look at an exciting new dimension of eyecare that is already having a significant impact on patient outcomes, and has the potential for even greater treatment possibilities. n

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