What it is
A waveguide is a thin piece of glass or polymer that carries light from a small light engine in the temple of the frame and releases it in front of the eye.
How it works
Light enters the waveguide through an in-coupling grating, bounces internally along the lens by total internal reflection, then exits through an out-coupling grating aimed at the pupil.
Why it matters
Waveguides are the main path to display glasses that still look like ordinary eyewear, because the optics live inside the lens rather than in a bulky box.
Advantages
- Thin and light
- See-through
- Compatible with normal frame shapes
Current limitations
- Limited brightness efficiency
- Colour uniformity is hard
- Expensive to manufacture at high yield
Commercial readiness
Shipping in several consumer and enterprise products, mostly monochrome or limited colour.
Development timeline
2019
Enterprise waveguide glasses reach steady commercial deployment
2024
Consumer HUD glasses ship with lens-integrated waveguides
2025
Mainstream display glasses arrive through optical retail