Wearable Eye Lenses Deliver Depression Relief Comparable to Prozac in Mice
Researchers developed flexible, drug-free contact lenses with ultrathin electrodes that use temporal interference to stimulate mood-regulating brain circuits via the retina. In depressed mice, 30-minute daily sessions for three weeks improved behavior, restored hippocampus–prefrontal cortex connectivity, and shifted biomarkers (serotonin up ~47%, corticosterone down ~48%, reduced brain inflammation) to levels similar to fluoxetine, suggesting the eye could noninvasively influence brain mood networks. The approach is not yet ready for humans and will require safety testing, wireless integration, and personalized tuning before clinical trials.