According to a recent Tech Times article, eyewear companies are pushing forward with frames that offer much more than just vision correction. We’re talking audio capabilities, augmented reality overlays, and full-on connectivity. Some of this is still early-stage. But a lot of it is already on the shelves … and could be showing up in your exam chair soon. At the very least, you can expect to start fielding questions. People are curious about smart glasses, even if they don’t fully understand what they do.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s gaining traction, and how optometrists can prepare.
Audio glasses are getting good
Bose, Ray-Ban Meta, or Amazon Echo Frames let you listen to music or take calls without earbuds. The tech isn’t bulky anymore and battery life is getting better.
Most of these models aren’t Rx-ready out of the box, but patients will want to know if they can wear them with their prescription. That opens the door to conversations about lens swaps, weight distribution, and whether the frame can handle a prescription at all. It’s not always a yes, but they’ll appreciate your guidance.
AR glasses are on the horizon (again)
Meta, Xreal, TCL, and other players are rolling out lightweight AR glasses that project notifications, wayfinding prompts, even entertainment directly into the wearer’s field of vision. We’re starting to see a ripple effect from Apple Vision Pro, although these models are not as immersive or powerful.
The form factor is getting closer to “real glasses,” which will bring forth good questions about visual ergonomics: Will all-day use of heads-up displays lead to eye strain? Will patients with high refractive errors even be candidates once Rx-compatible versions land? These aren’t questions with simple answers yet, but being ready to talk about them makes you look better.
Rx compatibility is the obvious pain point
The catch is that very few of these tech-forward glasses are built with Rx wearers in mind. The market is still skewed toward plano lenses or tech/fashion-first design. This will be frustrating for your patients who want both function and correction.
If your practice works with labs that can edge lenses for nontraditional frames, or if you can give honest advice about when not to try, that’s a good place to start. Even telling a patient, “This model probably won’t give you good optical results with your Rx, but here’s what to look for,” is going to be worthwhile.
You don’t need to stock smart glasses to play a role in all this. But as eyewear transitions from purely medical to medical + wearable tech, ODs who stay informed will be better positioned to help. Having a point of view grounded in clinical experience can go a long way.
