At CES 2026 a Finnish company called IXI revealed what could be a major leap forward in eyewear technology with smart glasses that automatically adjust focus based on where the wearer is looking. Conventional glasses have fixed focus or rely on bifocal and progressive lenses that require the user to look through specific areas for different distances. IXI’s design aims to eliminate this compromise.
The glasses use a combination of liquid crystal lenses and an eye-tracking system that monitors gaze direction and adjusts focus in real time, similar to how camera lenses switch from fixed focus to autofocus. The effect is seamless — as the wearer shifts their gaze between near and far objects the lenses change without any noticeable lag.
All of the computing hardware, sensors and a small battery are built into a lightweight frame weighing around 22 grams, and the glasses can run for about 18 hours on a single charge. IXI’s CEO Niko Eiden — a former rocket scientist — describes this as a new era in eyewear that moves beyond today’s static lenses to dynamic adaptive optics. Production partnerships are already in place with established optical manufacturers, and the glasses are expected to be priced in the premium segment.
Beyond vision correction, the embedded eye tracker can collect data such as blink rate and focus patterns, although most of this will remain unseen by users. With this blend of optics, electronics and subtle design, IXI’s smart glasses could significantly change how we think about eyeglasses in everyday life.
Author: Kieran Seymour