Contact lenses in the future will likely have functions other than correction of refractive error. Lenses designed to control the development of myopia are already commercially available. Contact lenses as drug delivery devices and powered through advancements in nanotechnology will open up further opportunities for unique uses of contact lenses.

This review examines the use, or potential use, of contact lenses aside from their role to correct refractive error. Contact lenses can be used to detect systemic and ocular surface diseases, treat and manage various ocular conditions and as devices that can correct presbyopia, control the development of myopia or be used for augmented vision. There is also discussion of new developments in contact lens packaging and storage cases.

The use of contact lenses as devices to detect systemic disease has mostly focussed on detecting changes to glucose levels in tears for monitoring diabetic control. Glucose can be detected using changes in colour, fluorescence or generation of electric signals by embedded sensors such as boronic acid, concanavalin A or glucose oxidase. Contact lenses that have gained regulatory approval can measure changes in intraocular pressure to monitor glaucoma by measuring small changes in corneal shape. Challenges include integrating sensors into contact lenses and detecting the signals generated. Various techniques are used to optimise uptake and release of the drugs to the ocular surface to treat diseases such as dry eye, glaucoma, infection and allergy. Contact lenses that either mechanically or electronically change their shape are being investigated for the management of presbyopia. Contact lenses that slow the development of myopia are based upon incorporating concentric rings of plus power, peripheral optical zone(s) with add power or non-monotonic variations in power. Various forms of these lenses have shown a reduction in myopia in clinical trials and are available in various markets.

未来的隐形眼镜可能会具有矫正屈光不正以外的功能。旨在控制近视发展的镜片已经在市场上销售。隐形眼镜作为药物输送装置并通过纳米技术的进步提供动力，将为隐形眼镜的独特用途开辟更多机会。

除了矫正屈光不正的作用外，本综述还检查了隐形眼镜的使用或潜在用途。隐形眼镜可用于检测全身和眼表疾病，治疗和管理各种眼部疾病，并可作为矫正老花眼、控制近视发展或用于增强视力的设备。还讨论了隐形眼镜包装和储存盒的新发展。

使用隐形眼镜作为检测全身性疾病的装置主要集中在检测泪液中葡萄糖水平的变化以监测糖尿病控制。可以使用颜色、荧光的变化或通过嵌入式传感器（如硼酸、伴刀豆球蛋白 A 或葡萄糖氧化酶）产生的电信号来检测葡萄糖。获得监管部门批准的隐形眼镜可以通过测量角膜形状的微小变化来测量眼内压的变化以监测青光眼。挑战包括将传感器集成到隐形眼镜中并检测产生的信号。各种技术用于优化药物对眼表的吸收和释放，以治疗干眼症、青光眼、感染和过敏等疾病。正在研究通过机械或电子方式改变形状的隐形眼镜用于老花眼的管理。减缓近视发展的隐形眼镜是基于结合同心环的正焦度、具有附加焦度或非单调焦度变化的周边光学区。这些镜片的各种形式在临床试验中都显示出近视度数的减少，并在不同的市场上有售。