Goodbye Bifocals, Hello Electronic Spectacles

Traditional bifocals could become a thing of the past with the invention of electronic glasses that automatically adjust to let their wearer view objects at different distances. The spectacles, which are due to be launched in the US this year and the UK next year, use lenses that change their strength when a small electrical current passes through them.

The electronic glasses, which have been developed by US firm PixelOptics, can be adjusted manually to view objects at different distances by pressing a button on the side of the frames. Unlike traditional bifocals, which only allow the wearer to focus 'near' or 'far,' the electronic lenses have a range of in-between settings.