Glucose monitoring in the blink of an eye - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

Corvallis, Ore. (KGW) — Engineers at Oregon State University are working on a transparent sensor that can be built into a contact lens.

The sensor would be able to monitor glucose levels of those living with type 1 diabetes.

“We have fully transparent sensors that are working,” said Greg Herman, an OSU professor of chemical engineering.

The sensor could be added to both prescription and non-prescription contact lenses. Instead of measuring glucose levels in a person’s blood, it would measure them in their tears.

It would then send that information to a cellphone or to an insulin pump, if the person is wearing one.

“The idea is to be able to make these at low enough costs that its not going to add significantly to the prescription contact lens cost,” Herman said.