On July 8, foreign media reported that Dubai-based AR smart contact lens developer XPANCEO completed a $250 million (approximately RMB 1.8 billion) Series A funding round, bringing XPANCEO's valuation to $1.35 billion.
XPANCEO will use this new funding to accelerate its plans to launch the world's first fully functional smart contact lens. The funds will be used for research and development of the smart contact lens, product design and operations team building, and to expedite the product's commercialization.
Image source: XPANCEO
It is reported that XPANCEO plans to create a smart contact lens that integrates extended reality (XR), real-time health monitoring, night vision, zoom and other functions, becoming an AI-driven XR terminal device.
XPANCEO has developed several smart contact lens technologies, including lenses for augmented reality vision, smart lenses with intraocular pressure (IOP) sensing (for glaucoma monitoring), biochemical lenses that can directly detect health parameters such as blood sugar from tears, and lenses with wireless real-time charging and data reading capabilities.
In addition, XPANCEO has developed prototype products such as lenses that use nanoparticle technology to achieve night vision and color correction, as well as lenses for 3D imaging.
It is worth noting that in October last year, XPAN CEO partnered with JBD to develop ultra-thin, comfortable AR smart contact lenses that integrate Micro LED microdisplays.
It is reported that XPANCEO has successfully tested a holographic display solution using JBD's Micro LED projector. However, currently, the Micro LED projector in this solution is external, and XPANCEO and JBD are working to integrate it into contact lenses.
In addition, XPAN CEO is working with JBD to integrate Micro LED microdisplays into contact lenses, using a custom collimating optics system to guide the image into a parallel beam, enabling the eye to focus and reducing the total thickness of the lens to less than 0.5 mm.
