New eyewear technology has been designed that will dramatically improve the way you wear sunglasses. Implemented by the John Reynolds Research Group from the Georgia Institute of Technology, this new user-controlled eyewear technology was created from blends of electrochromic polymer (ECP), and features high-contrast, fast-changing lenses which will allow the user to go from transparent to dark lenses, and back again in response to a small electrical charge that the wearer can control. In addition, this new technology can be used in fashionable sunglasses as the user also has the ability to fine-tune the color of their lenses
This new technology is a major innovation, as electrochromic lenses aim to resolve the inconveniences that come with using photochromic, or transitional lenses. Transitional lenses only become darker in shade when they are exposed to UV radiation or light, but this new piece of eyewear technology will allow the wearer to change their transparent lenses into shaded lenses, or change their shaded lenses to transparent within seconds. Giving the user the ability to change the shade of their lenses is a huge improvement over transitional lenses, which don’t meet the needs of most of its users. Since the lens transition with the electrochromic lenses can be done within seconds this solves the safety implications that transitional lenses can cause, as transitional lenses can take several minutes to change from clear to dark, or vis-versa. Besides the length of time, driving in a car or even wearing a hat can prevent these lenses from transforming into darker shades even when under broad daylight. In addition, these lenses don’t do well in blocking harsh light, especially light that is reflected off of snow; while electrochromic eyewear has the ability to block the most harmful rays or lights. This new technology could prove to be highly beneficial for people that do a lot of outdoor activities, in addition to working professionals such as construction workers, pilots, as well as police officers.