Bionic Eye Available Within Two Years
The (London) Times reports that scientists have announced that bionic eyes that “can restore sight to the blind should be available commercially within two years.”
An early version of the prosthetic retina has already been fitted to six patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative and incurable eye condition that affects 1 in 3,500 people. All have recovered the ability to detect light and motion, and even to make out large letters and to distinguish between objects such as a cup, a knife and a plate.
The second-generation device that is now starting trials should provide even better vision, as it contains 60 light-sensitive electrodes, compared with 16 in the previous model.
More improvements are expected within five to seven years with a 1000-electrode implant that will enable previously blind people to recognise faces, Professor Humayun said.
“The ultimate aim is to allow people recognise faces, and to allow the completely blind to get around on their own,� he told the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Francisco. “The first phase began in 2002, and the results were not what we expected: we thought they would only see light and dark, but they have done far better than that.
It’s expected to cost £15,000.
This truly is wonderful, go read the article at The Times to find out how this technology works.
3 Responses to “Bionic Eye Available Within Two Years”
With all of these astonishing medical breakthroughs I hope I can live long enough to be able to live long enough.
It is astonishing that subjects can benefit from 60 pixels, let alone the original 16. The brain is an amazing pattern processor!
[...] Researchers have reportedly developed an electronic eye suitable for implantation in blind people. Comprised of sixteen light-detecting electrodes, currently allows the drawing of distinctions between light and dark, the detection of motion, and the ability to classfy large objects. The next revision will contain 60 electrodes, and it is expected that within five years there will be artificial eyes with as many as a 1000, allowing face recognition. [...]