TDK Unveils Smart Glasses That Project Straight Onto the Retina — Using a 150-Nanometer Mirror Inside the Lens

TDK has developed a system for smart glasses that projects images directly onto the retina using a nearly transparent flat mirror inside the lens. The company calls it the world’s first implementation of Direct Retinal Projection (DRP) based on meta-optics. The prototype will go on public display at CEATEC 2026, which opens on October 13.

The key element of the system is a TDK meta-optic mirror just 150 nanometers thick. It consists of nanoscale reflective structures and transmits about 80% of visible light, so it can be built directly into an eyeglass lens with virtually no change to its appearance.

Earlier direct retinal projection systems required a curved mirror in front of the eye. The new design replaces it with a flat element: nanostructures at different points on the surface change the angle of reflection in different ways, steering laser light to where it needs to enter the eye.

No one else can see the image

DRP differs from the more familiar smart glasses displays in that it does not form a virtual image inside the lens the usual way. Light from the laser module is directed straight onto the retina.

This approach has an added effect: according to TDK, the image barely “leaks” outward, so a person standing opposite shouldn’t be able to see the content on the wearer’s display.

The company also expects to simplify manufacturing. Today’s waveguide displays require a complex optical structure inside the lens, whereas the meta-optic mirror can be produced using processes similar to those used in the semiconductor industry. TDK believes this could make the technology more competitive at mass-production scale.

For now, the image is monochrome only

Consumer-ready glasses are still a long way off. The current prototype works only with monochrome images, though TDK already has a compact full-color laser module and a visible-light controller designed for resolutions up to 4K. The next step is expected to be a demonstration of a full-color version.

To advance the technology, TDK is working with QD Laser. The companies signed an agreement in June 2026 and are jointly developing RGB light sources and optical modules for future smart glasses. TDK is also gaining access to some of QD Laser’s patents in retinal projection.

After CEATEC, the prototype is set to be shown at electronica 2026 in November. There are no production devices, prices or specific launch dates yet: TDK only expects to move the technology into mass production within the next few years.