IXI’s autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

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IXI’s autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

LatestNewsAIAppsComputingMobileSocial MediaEVs & TransportationReviewsSmartphonesLaptops & PCsGamingHeadphonesWearablesPhotographyTabletsHomeBuying GuidesLaptopsHeadphonesSmart HomeGamingGamingNintendoPCPlayStationXboxBig TechAmazonAppleGoogleMetaMicrosoftSamsungEntertainmentTV & MoviesStreamingCybersecurityVPNWearablesTomorrowScienceSpaceRobotics

Newsletter

Wearables

IXI’s autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses
After a long week of CES, my eyes might need a pair soon.

By Mat Smith

Jan. 8, 2026 4:26 pm EST

Mat Smith for Engadget

While wave upon wave of smartglasses and face-based wearables crash on the shores of CES, traditional glasses really haven't changed much over the hundreds of years we've been using them. The last innovation, arguably, was progressive multifocals that blended near and farsighted lenses — and that was back in the 1950s. It makes sense that autofocusing glasses maker IXI thinks it's time to modernize glasses.
After recently announcing a 22-gram (0.7-ounce) prototype frame, the startup is here in Las Vegas to show off working prototypes of its lenses, a key component of its autofocus glasses, which could be a game-changer. 

IXI's glasses are designed for age-related farsightedness, a condition that affects many, if not most people over 45. They combine cameraless eye tracking with liquid crystal lenses that automatically activate when the glasses detect the user's focus shifting. This means that, instead of having two separate prescriptions, as in multifocal or bifocal lenses, IXI's lenses automatically switch between each prescription. Crucially — like most modern smartglasses — the frames themselves are lightweight and look like just another pair of normal glasses.

Mat Smith for Engadget

With a row of prototype frames and lenses laid out in front of him, CEO and co-founder Niko Eiden explained the technology, which can be separated into two parts. First, the IXI glasses track the movement of your eyes using a system of LEDs and photodiodes, dotted around the edges of where the lenses sit. The LEDs bounce invisible infrared light off the eyes and then measure the reflection, detecting the subtle movements of your eye and how both eyes converge when focusing on something close.
Using infrared with just a "handful of analog channels" takes far less power than the millions of pixels and 60-times-per-second processing required by camera-based systems. IXI's system not only tracks eye movements, but also blinking and gaze direction, while consuming only 4 milliwatts of power.

Mat Smith for Engadget

Most of the technology, including memory, sensors, driving electronics and eye tracker, is in the front frame of the glasses and part of the arms closest to the hinge. The IXI prototype apparently uses batteries similar in size to those found in AirPods, which gives some sense of the size and weight of the tech being used. The charging port is integrated into the glasses' left arm hinge. Naturally, this does mean they can't be worn while charging. IXI says that a single charge should cover a whole day's usage.
The prototype frames I saw this week appeared to be roughly the same weight as my traditional chunky specs. And while these are early iterations, IXI's first frames wouldn't look out of place in a lineup of spectacle options.
The team has also refined the nose pieces and glasses arms to accommodate different face shapes. Apparently, when testing expanded from Finland to the UK, British faces were "...different." A little harsh when talking to me, a Brit.
Eiden pulled out some prototype lenses, made up of layers of liquid crystal and a transparent ITO (indium tin oxide) conductive layer. This combination is still incredibly thin, and it was amazing to watch the layers switch almost instantly into a prescription lens. It seemed almost magical. As they're so thin, they can be easily integrated into lenses with existing prescriptions. It can also provide cylindrical correction for astigmatism too.
Autofocus lenses could eliminate the need for multiple pairs of glasses, such as bifocals and progressives. Even if the glasses were to run out of power, they'd still function as a pair of traditional specs with your standard prescription, just lacking the near-sighted boost. IXI's sensor sensitivity can also offer insight into other health conditions, detect dry eyes, estimate attentiveness and, by tracking where you're looking, even posture and neck movement. According to Eiden, blink rate changes with focus, daydreaming and anxiety, and all that generates data that can be shown in the companion app.

Mat Smith for Engadget

Hypothetically, the product could even potentially adapt prescriptions dynamically, going beyond the simple vision correction of Gen 1. For example, it could offer stronger corrections as your eyes get fatigued through the day.
IXI appears to be putting the pieces in place to make these glasses a reality. It still needs to obtain the necessary medical certifications in order to sell its glasses and get all the production pieces in place. It's already partnered with Swiss lens-maker Optiswiss for manufacturing. Eiden says the final product will be positioned as a high-end luxury glasses option, selling through existing opticians. The company hopes to finally launch its first pair sometime next year.

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IXI is developing autofocusing lenses that possess the potential to supersede traditional multifocal glasses. This innovation stems from the recognition that traditional eyewear has seen limited evolution over centuries, with the most recent significant advancement being progressive multifocals from the 1950s. The startup is currently showcasing working prototypes of its lenses and a 22-gram frame, positioning the technology as a potential game-changer for vision correction.

The core functionality of the IXI glasses is designed to address age-related farsightedness, primarily affecting individuals over forty-five. The system operates by combining cameraless eye tracking with liquid crystal lenses that automatically adjust when the device detects a shift in the user's focus. This mechanism eliminates the need for separate prescriptions as found in multifocal or bifocal lenses, allowing the lenses to seamlessly switch between different prescriptions automatically.

Niko Eiden, CEO and co-founder of IXI, detailed the technology as comprising two main components. The eye tracking system utilizes LEDs and photodiodes distributed around the lens periphery to measure the reflection of invisible infrared light, thereby detecting subtle eye movements and convergence when focusing. This method is considerably less power-intensive than camera-based systems, utilizing only a small number of analog channels and consuming only four milliwatts while tracking eye movements, blinking, and gaze direction. Most of the supporting technology, including sensors, memory, and driving electronics, is integrated into the front frame and the arms, utilizing battery technology similar to that found in AirPods, allowing a single charge to sustain usage for an entire day.

The lenses themselves are constructed from a thin layer of liquid crystal combined with a transparent indium tin oxide conductive layer. This architecture allows the material to transition almost instantly into a prescribed lens, integrating existing prescriptions and even providing cylindrical correction for astigmatism. This thinness facilitates easy integration with existing prescriptions. Beyond basic vision correction, the sensor system provides ancillary health data, as the tracking capabilities allow for the estimation of posture and neck movement, as well as insights into dry eyes and attentiveness. Furthermore, changes in blink rate correlated with focus, daydreaming, and anxiety generate data that can be displayed in a companion application. Hypothetically, this level of data collection could allow the system to dynamically adapt visual corrections, potentially offering stronger adjustments as eye fatigue accumulates throughout the day.

IXI is progressing toward commercial viability by pursuing necessary medical certifications and has already established a manufacturing partnership with the Swiss lens-maker Optiswiss. The company intends to market the final product as a high-end luxury glasses option, distributing them through existing opticians, with the goal of launching their first pair next year.