AI-powered assistive eyewear for the visually impaired launched in Bengaluru

An AI-enabled assistive eyewear designed to support mobility and daily living for people with complete visual impairment was launched by a start-up at a city eye hospital on Thursday.

Developed by SHG Technologies with clinical validation from Narayana Nethralaya, the Smart Vision Glasses Ultra is a sleek, fashionwear-style assistive device that is modern and easy to use. Powered by Artificial Intelligence, it supports everyday needs such as reading text in multiple languages, currency recognition, identifying objects or obstacles, recognising faces, and navigating surroundings. It brings powerful assistance into a form that looks and feels like regular eyewear.

Demonstrating the AI-enabled assistive eyewear at a press conference, Anand Vinekar, Head of Paediatric Retina and Program Director, KIDROP (Karnataka Internet Assisted Diagnosis for Retinopathy of Prematurity) at Narayana Nethralaya, said that while medical or surgical interventions can benefit many, an estimated 5 to 7 million individuals in India live with irreversible visual impairment.

BENGALURU KARNATAKA 22/01/2026 :  Pic to go with Afshan Yasmeen’s AI glass story.  Smart Vision Glasses Ultra (SVG Ultra) 
| Photo Credit:
TH

“For them, vision loss should not mean the end of independence. The Buds to Blossoms clinic in our hospital has spent the past decade building a multidisciplinary model of care for children and adults with complex vision and neurological needs. Along this journey of providing comprehensive care under one roof, several innovations and technological advancements have emerged through collaboration with like-minded organisations, extending care beyond the clinic and into everyday life,” he said.

Pointing out that one such collaboration was with SHG Technologies, Dr. Vinekar said the partnership led to the development of Smart Vision Glasses Ultra. The focus is on improving mobility and daily living for people with total visual impairment, he said.

User experience

During the event, Ramamurthy, a user of the device, demonstrated how he navigated the hall, read news articles, identified currency denominations, and recognised both strangers and familiar faces using the AI-enabled features of Smart Vision Glasses.

Seetharam Muthangi, CEO and co-founder, SHG Technologies, said one of the biggest challenges for people with visual impairment is the social stigma of using a visible medical device. “They simply want to look like everyone else. This understanding led us to design Smart Vision Glasses to look like regular eyewear, and drove its evolution from a wired, bulky device into a sleek, wireless, fashionwear form,” he said.