CES 2024: ViXion01 glasses reduce eye strain by doing the focusing for you

CES — is the kind of show where you’ll find all sorts of Geordie La Forge-style smart glasses, but some of them still have some practical functions — such as the auto-focus glasses from ViXion. The company, which is a division of Japanese optics specialist Hoya, showed off its ViXion01 glasses at CES 2024, designed for people who have difficulty focusing their eyes due to stress, old age or time of day. After a quick demo, I realized I could use them on a daily basis. I even like the futuristic look of these glasses, created by Japanese design firm Nendo.

I even like the futuristic look of these glasses.

The ViXion01 is based on a frontal ToF (time-of-flight) sensor that allows you to measure the distance to an object and quickly adjust the lenses on the go. The basic concept is similar to the University of Utah prototype that was unveiled at CES 2017, but ViXion was able to miniaturize and even begin commercializing it. According to project leader Toshiharu Uchiumi, his device will work wonders at improving fine detail in applications such as assembling a model kit or reading small print.

The initial setup was simple. First I had to manually shift both lenses to get a single centered image, then I moved on to adjusting the diopters on the right to focus each eyeball, which worked fine despite my nearsightedness of about -4.5 D (you can also adjust this in the app via Bluetooth 5.0). Although the ViXion01 weighs 50 grams, the main circuitry and battery on the right side create an obvious imbalance, but I didn’t have enough time to adjust my fit on my bendy left hand and nose pads.

The ViXion01’s design is a bit of a challenge, but I didn’t have enough time to adjust its fit on my bendy left hand and nose pads.

Otherwise, it was a surprisingly pleasant visual experience. My vision was sharper than usual at both far and close distances (down to two inches), and I didn’t feel as much eye strain as I normally do when looking at objects up close — perfect for working on Gundam models. The automatic switching between different focal lengths was quick and smooth as well.

Automatic switching between different focal lengths was quick and smooth.

There are some caveats, however. First, ViXion emphasizes that it’s not a medical device, and you shouldn’t wear it while driving or playing sports — that makes sense given the limited field of vision due to the black rings on the lenses. With that in mind, the 10-hour battery life should be sufficient, and the device charges via USB-C within three hours. The camera is also not waterproof, although it is IPX3 rated, which will probably allow it to withstand a little rain or sweat.

The camera is also not waterproof, although it does have an IPX3 waterproof rating, which will probably allow it to withstand a little rain or sweat.

ViXion01 is already available for pre-order in Japan for 99,000 yen (about $690), and shipments will begin in February. No overseas launch is planned yet, but if it does, ViXion will likely have to produce a larger version.