Chlorin e6 (Ce6) Night Vision Eye Drops for Future Warfare Night Ops?

By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com

Photo(s) Credit: Science for the Masses (SciencefortheMasses.org)

March 28, 2015

Last year, DefenseReview (DR) reported on single-atom, two-dimensional graphene layer nanotech being developed by a team at the University of Michigan that might make thermal/IR (InfraRed)/night vision eyeglass lenses and contact lenses possible in the future. Well, a team out of California just bypassed the whole lense deal by developing night vision (or, “night enhancement”) eye drops. The key is an interesting chemical called Chlorin e6 (Ce6), which apparently allows the user to see in the dark well enough to distinguish between individuals standing in the woods at a distance of approximately 50 meters (50m) within an hour after application. Not bad.

That’s actually not all Ce6 does. Ce6 has been used is a “tetrapyrolle and a chlorophyll analog” that’s been used historically as a “photosensitizer in laser assisted cancer remediation. The light amplification properties of the Ce6 are used to use the energy from a low power light source to destroy cancerous cells with literal laser precision.” That’s one pretty cool multipurpose chemical. The downside? The application of the Ce6 solution appears to be pretty labor intensive, and certain precautions must be taken to avoid bright light exposure to the eyes, like wearing sunglasses. Oh, and it makes you look like your body just got taken over by a rather malevolent alien being bent on global takeover. Then again, some chicks might actually dig it.

Anyway, assuming the Ce6 solution is safe (i.e, there’s no or extremely small risk of permanent eye damage), it may prove a viable combat tool for military Special Operations Forces (SOF) engaged in night operations. Negating the need for night vision or thermal optics would definitely cut some weight from the soldier’s load.

Hat Tip: The Independent via The Drudge Report.

© Copyright 2015 DefenseReview.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links. If you are reading this article anywhere other than DefenseReview.com, please email us the website address/URL (where the unauthorized DR article reprint is located) at defrev (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you.

Related Articles:

New Single-Atom, Two-Dimensional Graphene-Layer Nanotechnology to Make Thermal/IR (Infrared)/Night Vision Fusion Lenses for Tactical Eyewear/Eyepro, Combat Optics, Cameras, Vehicle Windshields and Even Contact Lenses Possible?

MaxSight Lenses: Better Combat Vison for Tactical Operators?

Colt SWORD (Sniper Weapon and Observer Reconnaissance Devices) Networked Weapons Targeting System for Netcentric Warfare (Network-Centric Warfare) Demonstrated for DR at SHOT Show 2014 (Video!)

DR Video and Interview!: BAE Systems OASYS SkeetIR and StalkIR Universal Thermal Monocular (UTM) Thermal/IR (Infrared) Weapon Sights with Cantilevered Universal Weapons Mount (UWM) and Modular Night Vision (NV)/IR Fusion HMD Capability!: Operator/Sniper-Developed Electro-Optics for the 21st-Century Future Soldier/Warfighter

Insight Technology/Insight Tech-Gear CNVD-T (Clip-On Thermal Sight) Weapon Sight