About Adlens

Adaptive Eyeglasses Called World Changing Idea

Saatchi & Saatchi has named adaptive eyeglasses a "World Changing Idea." Adspecs are featured on the cover of their book, World Changing Ideas. Click here to read an excerpt.

Adlens is a technology company specializing in the development and commercialization of easily adjusted, variable focus lenses. A full technical and commercial staff develops our core lens technology, commercial products and markets. We are based in Oxford, United Kingdom.

James Chen and Oxford University Professor Josh Silver founded Adlens in 2004 with the joint aims of addressing the unmet need for refractive vision correction and pursuing commercial applications of the adaptive lens technology.

Adlens' first consumer product is an adjustable-focus reading glasses. A worldwide license was granted to a privately-owned US-based company, Adlens Beacon, Inc, in 2008 to bring the concept to market.

Why Vision?

A social enterprise committed to financial sustainability and social impact, Adlens develops and markets vision correction eyewear for commercial and humanitarian markets.

Our fluid-filled lens technology provides many unique advantages unmatched by other product offerings in the marketplace.

• One lens can work for thousands of different prescription combinations. Instead of keeping a large lens inventory, one adaptive lens fits most.
• The technology provides wearable eyeglasses in only a few minutes.
• Adaptive eyeglasses can travel and be deployed anywhere, anytime, with a layperson assistant. They do not require the equipment, trained personnel and cost of traditional eye refractions.
• Reading glasses with ongoing adjustment can change as the user's needs shift, or they shared with another user: one pair fits all.

Adlens in the Community

Learner Profile: FATI

My name is Fati. I sell goods on credit. I demand an advance pay first and the rest of the money is spread over a period of time. Whenever my customers pay part of the money, we have a way we scribble it on the wall but sometimes this brings confusion amongst us. So I decided to join this literacy class so that I can learn to write my customers name in a book and the money they owe me. Normally when I attend classes in the night I have difficulties in reading from the board but when I got the glasses it helped to correct my vision. When I did not have the glasses, I had to get closer to the board to be able to see clearly. I only use the glasses for class work. Prior to the adaptive eyewear, I had my own pair of reading glasses but it was not as effective as the adaptive eyeglasses.

The founders of Adlens are motivated by the challenge of providing vision correction to people who lack access.

In much of the developing world, there is a dire shortage of eye care professionals. However, researchers have demonstrated that people can find out their own best eyeglass power when using our variable-power eyeglasses.