XPANCEO, a tech company based in Dubai, is progressing in the development of smart contact lenses that can display augmented reality visuals, monitor health metrics, and offer wireless connectivity. This advancement aims to offer an alternative to smart glasses and other wearable gadgets.
The startup, specializing in smart contact lens technology, disclosed a successful proof of concept for integrating a microbattery into the lens in collaboration with ITEN, a French tech firm. Unlike smart glasses or virtual reality headsets, contact lenses need to function within a compact design while adhering to stringent safety and biocompatibility standards.
XPANCEO mentioned that low-energy features like biosensing could leverage energy obtained from the wearer’s body and surroundings, such as blinking, body heat, and tear fluid. To address the limitations of conventional lithium-ion batteries, prone to swelling, leakage, and overheating, the company partnered with ITEN, known for developing solid-state ceramic microbatteries that mitigate risks associated with liquid-electrolyte batteries.
Engineers involved in the project at XPANCEO have devised a multi-stage encapsulation process and explored thermal management and overvoltage protection to suit the confined space of a contact lens. This collaboration marks a significant step towards making smart contact lenses commercially viable.
In July 2025, XPANCEO secured $250 million in a Series A funding round, elevating its valuation to $1.35 billion and earning it unicorn status. The funding, spearheaded by Opportunity Venture (Asia), followed a prior $40 million seed investment. XPANCEO has projected a potential consumer release of the technology around 2030, acknowledging existing technical and regulatory challenges.
