Google has developed a prototype contact lens for diabetics that measures blood-sugar levels in tears.
The technology could one day supersede the current method which involves pricking the fingers and testing blood droplets, Google said in a Friday blog post.
The gadget contains a tiny wireless chip and a glucose sensor embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material, alongside an antenna thinner than a human hair.
The project's co-founders, Brian Otis and Babak Parviz, said the prototype can measure a tear's glucose level every second.
The researchers are also exploring the integration of tiny lights that would change colour to indicate when glucose levels are dangerously high or low.
"We hope this could some day lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease," they wrote.
The researchers are in discussions with US medical regulators and are searching for partners to help develop the technology.
Google, the world's largest search engine, is investigating a variety of futuristic technologies including self-driving cars and high-altitude balloons that beam wireless internet to remote areas.
The company also launched an initiative in September dedicated to tackling diseases related to ageing.
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