Lab on a Contact Lens Can Measure Stress Through Serotonin

Lab on a Contact Lens Can Measure Stress Through Serotonin spectrum.ieee.org

Smart contact lenses might one day measure body chemistry throughout the day

70 points•marc__1•5 days ago•26 comments•

#measure #contact #lens #serotonin #lab #stress #measure stress #contact lens

26 comments

someothherguyy5 days ago

https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.adv9538

user27225 days ago

short sci-fi horror story follows:

* Hello, we've called you to HR because we've detected you have been stressed at work.

- Sure, some... overwork status after you reduce headcount, but nothing it isn't being managed with the hierarchy chain.

* Glad to know. Be sure we, as a company, endeavour to have a stress-free workplace. You will be put in a Stress Workplace Reduction PIP, just as a formality of course; since you mentioned you have taken the appropriate steps to reduce stress you should pass the PIP, no need to stress about it! See you in a few weeks.

- Er... Thanks......?

goda905 days ago

Relevant I.T. Crowd scene: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=da4PhXJzDcs

amelius5 days ago

"Oh and our toilet sensors have also measured your stool with some interesting conclusions ..."

65104 days ago

It wouldn't be right to fire her after she finds out she is pregnant.

perching_aix5 days ago

sounds cultural

functionmouse5 days ago

Coming soon, to a culture near you.

reilly30005 days ago

Fascinating! How does the data make it off the lenses? Graphene-scale radios on my eyes sounds like it would have to have side effects.

someothherguyy5 days ago

through wires

---

"The team's next step is to move from the current laboratory-connected platform toward a fully integrated wearable system. The team plans to integrate wireless components so a future version of the lens can acquire and transmit readings in real time while being worn, rather than requiring tear samples to be collected and analyzed afterward.

Larger and more diverse human studies will be needed to determine how tear serotonin relates to stress and mental health across different populations. Long-term sensor stability, calibration in the dynamic tear environment, comfort, manufacturing reproducibility and extended on-eye safety will also need to be established before the technology can move toward clinical use."

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-smart-contact-lens-se...

functionmouse5 days ago

"Team can measure serotonin in your eyeball with a serotonin sensor hooked up to wires coming out of your eyeball" doesn't sound as glamorous as the headline tho

NDlurker5 days ago

Color changing like a mood ring?

scun5 days ago

They go totally opaque until you calm down.

sublinear5 days ago

This probably isn't that far off. That would keep the contact lenses inert and passive (no added side effects and no power needed).

The color change could also be subtle enough to require a sensor in smartglasses, but I don't think that's too bad. If the lenses ever get to the point where they're relaying multiple things, you're going to need a sensor anyway to demux those signals.

globalise835 days ago

Feeling murderous: jet black Feeling angry: bright red Feeling calm: light turquoise

amelius5 days ago

Meanwhile the Apple Watch can't even measure glucose levels.

Tade05 days ago

Well, that is a hard problem to solve. There's around a sugar cube's worth of glucose in an adult bloodstream and it's not as prominent optically as oxygenated blood.

amelius5 days ago

Glucose sensors exist. You can buy them for around $100 (per month).

Read the full thread on Hacker News →

26 comments

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