While tech giants like Meta and Apple have been focusing on smart glasses and mixed reality headsets, Finnish startup IXI has been quietly working on a different approach: autofocus glasses designed to improve the vision of those with visual impairments.

Founded in 2021, IXI emerged from stealth mode in April with $36 million in funding to commercialize its autofocus glasses. The company says its prescription glasses will change how visually impaired people experience the world.

“None of the tech giants are fixing eyesight,” said Niko Eiden, IXI’s cofounder and CEO. “They’re looking at smart eyewear as a new wearable platform for AI assistants or capturing footage for your social media feed, but not solving the actual vision problem.”

Eiden brings significant experience to the challenge. He previously spent 14 years at Nokia, where he developed imaging and augmented reality (AR) technology that contributed to Microsoft’s HoloLens headset. He then co-founded Varjo, a European company specializing in mixed reality (XR).

IXI’s glasses do not include cameras,AI,or VR features. instead, they use a low-power sensor to track eye movements. The sensor emits light pulses and measures the reflections to determine if the wearer is looking at something near, far, or in between.

This information is then sent as electrical signals to the lenses, which consist of a thin layer of liquid crystal between two layers of plastic. When an electric field is applied,the liquid crystals change structure,bending light and allowing the lens to autofocus with a lag time of approximately 0.2 seconds.

“We’re trying to push the same step change that happened with cameras – from fixed focus to manual focus to auto focus,” said Eiden.

From Static to Dynamic

IXI’s autofocus glasses are designed as a replacement for bifocal and progressive lenses, which correct vision at multiple distances within a single lens. However, these traditional lenses often have limited usable zones, distortions, and narrow reading sections, which can cause difficulties with activities like walking down stairs.

IXI claims its autofocus technology provides a full field of vision across the entire lens. The low-power electronics are compact enough to fit within a regular frame.

The company is still in the research and development phase and has not yet announced a launch date. IXI faces technical challenges related to clarity,haziness,and ensuring the glasses are pleasant for all-day wear while matching the optical clarity of traditional lenses. The glasses must also meet medical requirements for prescription eyewear.

Eiden believes IXI’s technology can bridge the gap between smart glasses and the traditional eyewear industry,which he says focuses more on brand and design than optics. If IXI succeeds, it could see significant growth.

The global eyewear market reached $200 billion in 2024 and is growing by 8-9% annually.This growth is partly attributed to declining eyesight, which scientists link to increased screen time, poor lighting, and inactive indoor lifestyles.

IXI is not the only company working on autofocus glasses. french startup Laclarée and Japan’s Elcyo are also developing similar technologies, though neither has released a product.

With its recent funding, IXI plans to expand its R&D efforts, grow its team of 50, and move to a new headquarters with a dedicated lab and clean room. The company intends to hold live demonstrations of its glasses later this year.

“From the static lens to the dynamic lens… it’s a natural evolution,” said eiden. “Whether it’s us or another company, somebody will crack it.”