In the heart of Dubai, the innovative concept of developing smart contact lenses that blend augmented reality with artificial intelligence was born, aiming to redefine how humans interact with technology. After years of research and contemplation, the founders of XPANCEO came to realize that the next generation of computing should be invisible, intuitive, and seamlessly integrated into daily life, transforming into a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than just a wearable device.
Roman Akslerod, co-founder and managing partner of XPANCEO, shared in an exclusive interview: “Choosing Dubai as our headquarters was no coincidence. The emirate offers a perfect environment for deep tech companies, with government support, incentive programs, advanced infrastructure, and a strategic location that facilitates access to global markets. For us, Dubai represents an ideal platform to move quickly, attract global talent, and turn our ambitious visions into reality.”
The startup, based in Dubai, was established by Roman Akslerod and his partner Dr. Valentin Volkov, an expert in nano-optics and nano-photonics. They recently raised $250 million in funding to develop smart contact lenses that provide night vision, image magnification, and real-time health checks.
Akslerod explained: “XPANCEO’s smart lenses offer an invisible digital interface with exceptional capabilities, ranging from displaying information directly on the eye to precise health monitoring through the integration of sensors for glucose, hormones, and intraocular pressure. This technology is not just an innovation in wearables; it’s a step towards a new era of future computing, where daily life seamlessly merges with digital data.” Below is the interview:
How did the idea of developing smart contact lenses that integrate augmented reality technologies come about?
A few years ago, after leaving my previous company, I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to something truly exceptional and innovate the next generation of computing. I’ve always believed that our current devices hinder us. If we want to advance as a species, whether through space exploration or extending human life, we need a radical technological leap. I envisioned an AI and XR-powered computing device that would be invisible, smooth, and intuitively integrated into daily life.
For months, I passionately contemplated the form this future could take. I knew it needed to be centered around the user in a completely new way, but the vision didn’t come to clarity until that night when I saw an image of a girl wearing a space helmet with strikingly glowing eyes. That moment inspired me: the next generation of computing must be a contact lens, and thus, the vision for XPANCEO was born.
What motivated you to choose Dubai as the main headquarters for the company?
We chose Dubai because it offers a rare blend of visionary leadership, practical advantages, and strong support for innovation. The UAE’s commitment to technological advancement deeply resonates with our mission to push the boundaries of the possible. The leadership sets ambitious goals for the future, and this approach inspires us every day.
Moreover, Dubai provides an ideal environment for building a deep tech company—ranging from low taxes and supportive government programs to world-class infrastructure. For our international team, the absence of income tax is a significant financial advantage that helps attract and relocate top talent, while Dubai’s strategic geographic location allows us efficient access to global markets and the importation of specialized equipment we need.
In short, Dubai gives us the freedom, resources, and energy to move swiftly and think expansively, which is exactly what we need.
What are the key features of the lenses compared to current wearables like smart glasses?
Our technology aims to provide a completely different approach to augmented reality and digital interaction. While most competitors focus on making smart glasses or bulky headsets that face challenges such as unacceptable weight, overheating, short battery life, and poor outdoor visibility, our approach addresses these challenges by placing the display directly on the eye. This design has the potential to reduce energy consumption by 100 to 300 times, eliminate barriers around the eye, and provide full brightness in outdoor settings.
We’ve designed ultra-thin and flexible smart contact lenses that integrate powerful functionalities in a seamless and wearable form. Additionally, the smart lens monitors key health indicators such as glucose, hormones, and vitamins from tear fluid and includes a high-tech sensor for measuring intraocular pressure.
Unlike traditional wearables, our smart lenses offer a completely invisible interface, reimagining how humans interact with digital information, whether helping firefighters navigate in zero visibility conditions, enabling simple glucose tracking, or enhancing daily life with an immersive hands-free augmented reality experience.
What is the biggest challenge in miniaturizing the technology to fit inside the eye and addressing a sustainable power source for the lenses?
One of the main challenges in miniaturizing the smart lenses is integrating complex optical and electronic components, including micro-projectors to generate images, biosensors for health monitoring, and electronics for power management and communication, into a lens that is thin, transparent, and lightweight like a traditional corrective lens. Traditional materials and physics were insufficient to meet these stringent requirements, so we had to rethink the entire lens design from scratch. Dr. Valentin Volkov, a leading expert in nano-optics and nano-photonics, and I assembled an exceptional team of engineers and scientists, including members ranked among the top three global startups in physics by Nature, with over 110 scientific publications and collaborations involving Nobel laureates.
For power, our smart lenses primarily rely on micro-solid batteries embedded directly within them, supported by a built-in antenna that wirelessly receives power from a companion device throughout the day. This companion device acts as a computing hub, handling heavy data processing that the lenses cannot perform due to their size. Additionally, it periodically charges the micro-batteries, allowing for continuous real-time operation. The main charging occurs at night while the smart lenses rest in the companion device’s case, fully recharging the micro-batteries.
We are also exploring additional options for energy harvesting, such as capturing solar energy from ambient light. Since our smart lenses consume significantly less power than traditional smart glasses, this supplementary charging could support all-day use.
Can you explain how the real-time health monitoring feature within the lenses works?
Advanced biosensors are integrated directly into the lenses to continuously and in real time monitor key health indicators by analyzing tear fluid. These sensors, aided by nanoparticles, amplify signals for essential vital markers such as glucose, hormones, and vitamins like B1, B2, B3, D, and E.
This continuous, non-invasive tracking of these vital markers throughout the day provides users with immediate insights into their personal health without needing bulky or intrusive devices. For instance, real-time glucose monitoring is extremely important for the 422 million people living with diabetes, as it allows them to manage their condition easily and detect early signs to prevent complications.
Additionally, the lenses measure moisture levels to help prevent dry eye syndrome, which affects 5% to 15% of the global population. Another important feature is the integrated intraocular pressure (IOP) sensor, designed to manage glaucoma. A nearly invisible optical pattern on the lens dynamically shifts with changes in eye pressure, allowing users to simply take a selfie using an AI-powered app to scan this pattern and obtain accurate real-time pressure readings. This feature is crucial, especially given that it is expected that 111 million people will be living with glaucoma globally by 2040, with nearly half of the cases remaining undiagnosed until significant vision loss occurs.
When do you expect the first version to be ready for clinical trials?
We plan to conduct preclinical trials on individual components of the smart lens this year, with the full lens, including all features, scheduled for testing by the end of 2026. We are currently negotiating with several Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to carry out a pilot study and prepare for preclinical trials.
How do you handle the challenges of regulatory and medical approvals for such advanced devices?
As we prepare to begin human trials, our company treats the smart lens primarily as a medical device rather than a consumer product. This means we adhere to strict regulatory standards, including comprehensive assessments of biocompatibility and clinical verification. Just like pharmaceutical drugs, the lens will undergo extensive testing to ensure its safety and efficacy. Our strict commitment and focus on user safety will remain at the forefront throughout every phase of development.