Virginia based company PixelOptics have developed some hi-tech glasses that could make bifocals a thing of the past. The glasses are able to switch from normal glasses to reading glasses in an instant via a flick of a switch.

The technology does sound pretty interesting

The first commercial dynamic glasses will only be able to switch between a person’s normal vision and their “reading” prescription. However, by applying different voltages and by changing the number of current-carrying rings within each lens it should be possible to produce different magnifications using the same lens, researchers say.

Peyghambarian is now working on glasses that can dynamically refocus on whatever the wearer is looking at. These will most probably use an infrared laser built into the bridge of the glasses to determine how far away an object is. “The idea is to put the focusing power found in the lens of a camera on your face all the time,” Peyghambarian told New Scientist.

The prototype (pictured) do look a bit too geeky but as the technology progresses you’ll probably not be able to tell the difference between them and a normal pair of glasses. I’m still waiting the x-ray specs to hit the market

[Found in New Scientist, found via Digg]