In 2012, Google unveiled Google Glass and within a year made the proprietary smartglass available to consumers under their Glass Explorer program. With much fanfare, a partnership was launched with Diane von Furstenberg, and the device even starred in a multipage pictorial for Vogue. Despite some initial excitement among some consumers and eyecare practitioners, Google Glass had issues from the start. Its futuristic, geeky look was off-putting to many consumers, its built-in video camera seemed intrusive to those concerned about privacy, and it had a high price point. Ultimately, Google withdrew Glass from the consumer market. Several innovations have recently taken place, most notably breakthroughs in near-eye optics that will enable display systems to assume the form factor of a more traditional lens, and even embed these displays within a prescription lens. Read More