A method for preparing a body-mountable device is described. The method involves: forming a first polymer layer, the first polymer layer comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer; positioning a structure on the first polymer layer; and forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, the second polymer layer comprises a second liquid crystal elastomer, wherein the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side, and wherein the application of an electric field across the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer causes the body-mountable device to polarize or depolarize in response to the electric field.