Scientists develop contact lenses that let humans see near-infrared light

An international team led by Chinese scientists has developed revolutionary contact lenses that allow humans to see near-infrared light, a breakthrough that could transform medical imaging and visual assistance technologies.

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The study, published in the journal Cell on Thursday, combines visual neuroscience with rare earth elements to create transparent, wearable lenses that convert invisible infrared light into visible images, Xinhua news agency reported.

The human eye only detects light with wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometres, thus missing much of nature's information.

Near-infrared light, with wavelengths between 700 and 2,500 nanometres, excels at penetrating biological tissue with minimal radiation damage.