Lab on a Contact Lens Can Measure Stress Through Serotonin

70 pointsposted 2 days ago
by marc__1
(spectrum.ieee.org)

29 Comments

user2722

2 days ago

short sci-fi horror story follows:

* Hello, we've called you to HR because we've detected you have been stressed at work.

- Sure, some... overwork status after you reduce headcount, but nothing it isn't being managed with the hierarchy chain.

* Glad to know. Be sure we, as a company, endeavour to have a stress-free workplace. You will be put in a Stress Workplace Reduction PIP, just as a formality of course; since you mentioned you have taken the appropriate steps to reduce stress you should pass the PIP, no need to stress about it! See you in a few weeks.

- Er... Thanks......?

amelius

a day ago

"Oh and our toilet sensors have also measured your stool with some interesting conclusions ..."

6510

13 hours ago

It wouldn't be right to fire her after she finds out she is pregnant.

user

2 days ago

[deleted]

reilly3000

2 days ago

Fascinating! How does the data make it off the lenses? Graphene-scale radios on my eyes sounds like it would have to have side effects.

someothherguyy

2 days ago

through wires

---

"The team's next step is to move from the current laboratory-connected platform toward a fully integrated wearable system. The team plans to integrate wireless components so a future version of the lens can acquire and transmit readings in real time while being worn, rather than requiring tear samples to be collected and analyzed afterward.

Larger and more diverse human studies will be needed to determine how tear serotonin relates to stress and mental health across different populations. Long-term sensor stability, calibration in the dynamic tear environment, comfort, manufacturing reproducibility and extended on-eye safety will also need to be established before the technology can move toward clinical use."

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-smart-contact-lens-se...

functionmouse

a day ago

"Team can measure serotonin in your eyeball with a serotonin sensor hooked up to wires coming out of your eyeball" doesn't sound as glamorous as the headline tho

NDlurker

2 days ago

Color changing like a mood ring?

scun

2 days ago

They go totally opaque until you calm down.

davoneus

2 days ago

Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril-Sensitive Sungl.... Contacts.

They operate on the principle "what you don't know can't hurt you," they turn completely black and opaque at the first sign of trouble, so you can't see anything that might alarm you.

rzzzt

a day ago

I prefer fiery red when low serotonin is detected.

globalise83

a day ago

Feeling murderous: jet black Feeling angry: bright red Feeling calm: light turquoise

sublinear

2 days ago

This probably isn't that far off. That would keep the contact lenses inert and passive (no added side effects and no power needed).

The color change could also be subtle enough to require a sensor in smartglasses, but I don't think that's too bad. If the lenses ever get to the point where they're relaying multiple things, you're going to need a sensor anyway to demux those signals.

user

a day ago

[deleted]

amelius

a day ago

Meanwhile the Apple Watch can't even measure glucose levels.

Tade0

a day ago

Well, that is a hard problem to solve. There's around a sugar cube's worth of glucose in an adult bloodstream and it's not as prominent optically as oxygenated blood.

amelius

a day ago

Glucose sensors exist. You can buy them for around $100 (per month).

anamexis

a day ago

I'm not sure if you're trolling, but glucose sensors are (minimally) invasive - they insert a filament under your skin with a needle.

Tade0

a day ago

I was surprised by GP's comment because to my knowledge there doesn't exist a device of this type which wouldn't require puncturing the skin.

rzzzt

13 hours ago

My mom gets bombarded with ads selling non-invasive glucose monitors but the most plausible unit I have found uses lasers and has the size of a refrigerator, still in development.

fcatalan

2 days ago

This will come handy for my Voight-Kampff testing machine startup.

user

a day ago

[deleted]

throwaway27448

a day ago

How useful is detecting seratonin?

rzzzt

13 hours ago

The article says it is inversely correlated with cortisol, the stress hormone thunderclap, but that is harder to measure through tear concentration.