The company, IXI, is developing prescription glasses that can change their focus automatically in real time.

Instead of using fixed zones like bifocals or progressive (varifocal) lenses, the glasses track your eyes and adjust their lenses on the fly using liquid crystal technology.

For anyone with age-related long-sightedness, today’s solutions usually mean learning to tilt your head just right to find the sweet spot in the lens and putting up with blurred edges.

IXI’s aim is to make the lens adapt to your eyes, not the other way around.

The system uses tiny infrared LEDs and sensors inside the frame to work out where you’re looking.

When your gaze shifts to something close, such as your phone, a near-vision correction appears in the lens. Look back up at the distance and the lens returns to your normal prescription. Most of the time, the entire lens stays optimised for distance vision.

The result, the company says, is less head-tilting, less eye strain and a more natural way to see.

These don’t look like chunky tech goggles either. IXI’s latest prototypes weigh about 22 grams – similar to regular glasses – and hide the electronics in the frame and arms.

The trade-off is that they need charging, via a concealed magnetic connector, with a battery that is designed to last a full day.

There are still caveats. The lenses have some edge distortions and more testing is needed before the company say they are suitable for activities like driving.

And if the electronics fail or the battery runs out, the glasses fall back to a normal single prescription.

IXI, which has raised €30 million (A$52 million), is aiming to launch in Europe within the next year, with other regions to follow. Pricing will be firmly at the high end of the market.

If it works as promised, it could be the biggest change to everyday glasses in decades.