Contamac, the specialist manufacturer of advanced ophthalmic materials, has partnered with deep-tech company XPANCEO to support the development of smart contact lenses incorporating augmented reality (AR) technology.

The collaboration combines Contamac’s decades of experience in ophthalmic device manufacturing with XPANCEO’s expertise in micro-displays, optical systems, wireless power and microbattery technology.

A key focus of the partnership is addressing the material and manufacturing challenges involved in integrating sophisticated electronic and optical components directly into a contact lens, while maintaining the optical, mechanical and comfort properties expected of a high-quality lens.

Contamac is supporting the development and evaluation of polymer formulations and manufacturing processes designed to securely integrate XPANCEO’s components within the lens structure. The partners are testing different approaches to achieve uniform integration without seams, delamination or localised thickening, while maintaining the precise positioning required for AR image quality.

The current concept has been prototyped using a rigid contact lens geometry, providing the dimensional stability needed to accurately position the display and optical components.

“Smart contact lenses present an exciting new challenge for the ophthalmic industry, bringing together advanced electronics, optics and biomaterials within a device worn directly on the eye,” said Dr James Turton, Business Development Scientist at Contamac. “Our expertise in ophthalmic material and device manufacturing enables us to explore how these technologies can be integrated into a lens while maintaining the performance and quality essential for ophthalmic applications.”

“A breakthrough in the lab only matters if it can become a product people can actually use. For us, this partnership is another step toward bringing smart contact lenses into environments where hands-free access to information is critical. It moves us beyond abstract technological progress and closer to a durable, manufacturable product ready for the real world,” said Roman Axelrod, founder of XPANCEO.

Robert McGregor, Managing Director of Contamac, said: “The development of smart contact lenses represents an exciting next step for the ophthalmic industry, and we are delighted to be on that journey with XPANCEO.”

The partnership represents another step towards transforming smart contact lens technology from laboratory innovation into a manufacturable ophthalmic device, and reflects Contamac’s continued commitment to advancing the future of contact lens technology.