Google is running tests of a contact lens that measures glucose levels among diabetics.

The lens analyses the wearer’s tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturised sensor, both embedded within the lens.

And the search giant is looking for partners who can help turn the lens into a commercial product. Of particular interest is how to share data generated by the lens with the wearer and medical professionals.

The company, which said its prototype can generate a reading once per second, is also exploring whether the lens could send an early warning to the wearer about their glucose level.

Google is considering integrating tiny LED lights that could come on to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain levels.

“It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype,” wrote Brian Otis and Babak Parviz, the project co-founders, in a blog in which they revealed their work (although their plans came out last week in a media report about a visit they made to the FDA).

The blog said Google is looking for partners who will develop apps to work with its smart contact technology. The apps would share the data generated by the lens with doctors and patients.