Israeli Company Uses AI to Customize Expensive Prescription Sunglasses for Better Outdoor Vision
Israeli optics company Shamir has introduced Shamir Sun Intelligence, a new line of prescription sunglasses lenses designed with artificial intelligence to improve optical performance in large, curved, or wraparound frames. Unlike traditional lenses that are simply darkened versions of prescription glasses, these lenses are tailored through AI algorithms that analyze user prescription, frame geometry, physiological data, and environmental factors such as lighting and glare.
Clinical optometrist Arza Prochter explained that the AI is not embedded in the glasses but is used during the lens design phase to optimize lens geometry based on extensive data from previous designs and user experiences. This approach allows for more precise adjustments to accommodate complex frame shapes and outdoor visual needs, such as wider horizontal and vertical fields of view, reduced distortion during eye movement, and improved color perception under bright sunlight.
Shamir’s digital measurement system also captures detailed data on pupil position through dark lenses, enabling a highly personalized fit. Internal company tests with 31 users over two weeks reported a 10% improvement in color perception on digital screens and significant increases in horizontal and vertical fields of view compared to non-specialized lenses. However, these results are based on small internal samples.
The technology is applicable to all prescriptions and frame types, including multifocal lenses, and is especially beneficial for users with high prescriptions or challenging frame shapes. The advanced lenses come at a premium price, with multifocal pairs costing between 7,000 and 8,000 shekels. Prochter emphasized that the product is a personalized, smart technology solution aimed at enhancing outdoor vision and overall eye care.
Consumers will need to weigh the improved visual experience against the high cost, particularly those who struggle to find suitable lenses for curved sunglasses or spend significant time outdoors. The key question remains how noticeable the AI-driven improvements will be in everyday use compared to existing premium lenses.
