Tuesday, Google and Novartis announced their plans to develop the smart contact lens introduced earlier this year. The smart contact lens is capable of monitoring diabetic users’ blood glucose levels through their tears to warn them when their levels become dangerous. A separate lens also being developed will help the visually impaired.

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is the parent of Alcon, the most widely used contact lens producer on the market. Alcon produces many well recognized brands such as Air Optix, FreshLook and Dailies. Google’s partnership with the leaders in contact lenses will help spread the product to many users.

The contact lens will monitor users’ glucose levels by reading their tear and moisture levels in their eyes. A microscopic wireless glucose sensor embedded between two layers of the contact lens will then analyze the information and warn users if their glucose levels have gone above or below safe thresholds. The information can be monitored by either physicians or patients almost immediately.

Users suffering from diabetes must monitor their glucose levels to reduce any risk of complications related to diabetes. Diabetes related complications include anything from amputation of limbs, blindness and even death.

In addition to the glucose monitoring lens, the team of developers are working to develop a contact lens that will help the visually impaired. Specifically, users suffering from the age-related eye condition presbyopia can use the lens to focus on nearby objects they would not ordinarily be able to see. The contact lens will help restore the eye’s “natural autofocus on near objects in the form of an accommodative contact lens … as part of the refractive cataract treatment.”

“We are looking forward to working with Google to bring their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs” says Novartis CEO Joseph “Joe” Jimenez.

The partnership between Google and Novartis comes just as the tech sector is looking for areas for growth. In an age where people are taking more control of their own medical treatment a partnership between pharmaceutical and technology companies are crucial.

Just this year, Samsung introduced wearable devices that allows users to monitor their daily movements. Apple released a device that monitors users’ heart rates, foot steps and sleep activities. Although Google is currently only in the contact lens market, Jimenez states they are also researching how the technology can be used in other areas as well.

Topics: Google Inc.