The creation of bionic eyes, as a result of recent advances in science and technology, are restoring hope to many who are unable to see or are partially sighted due to injury, illness or genetics.
With nearly 40 million people suffering from blindness worldwide and another 135 million affected by low vision, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the need for new solutions is pressing. Could bionic eye technology lead the way?
A healthy eye takes in light through the pupil and a lens focuses that light onto the back of the eye, where there is a thick layer of light sensitive tissue called the retina. Cells called photoreceptors turn the light into electrical signals which travel down the optic nerve to the brain, which then interprets the images.
But problems occur when part of that system is interrupted, often by degenerative diseases which can damage parts of the retina. This is where technology steps in to bridge the gap in the part of the process which is missing or damaged.
Scientists at the University of Sydney and UNSW recently carried out successful trials of the Phoenix99 bionic eye in sheep, to determine how the body heals when it is implanted with the device .
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Researchers said there were no unexpected reactions and expect it could safely remain in place for "many years". The work will now pave the way for human trials. One of the problems with the tech though is that it can be relatively bulky, so the race is on to find new ways to power bionic eyes.
Scientists at the Harbin Institute of Technology in China and Northumbria University recently developed a low-power system to control the synaptic devices in the bionic eyes, with lead professor Professor PingAn Hu describing it as a ‘significant breakthrough’ according to Northumbria University’s press release.
Bionic eyes work by ‘filling in the blanks’ between what the retina perceives and how it is processed in the brain’s visual cortex, that breakdown occurs in conditions which impact the retina. It is largely these conditions which bionic eyes could help treat.
According to Tufts Medical Center, one such disease is Retinitis Pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in that part of the eye.
Another condition is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that can blur someone’s central vision. The condition occurs when aging causes damage to the macula, the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision.
As well as degenerative illnesses, bionic eyes could in theory be used to treat people who have suffered physical injuries which have led to retinal damage too, according to Nature.
After being fitted with the bionic eye at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, he was able to see the difference between light and dark and could detect people moving.
He said: “It means I can see my grandchildren for the first time. When they come round to see me they wear white t-shirts to help me keep an eye on them. I couldn’t tell you much about what they look like, but at least I can see them coming now!”
“Computer Model Fosters Potential Improvements to 'Bionic Eye' Technology”. Association for Computing Machinery (2021). https://cacm.acm.org
“Developing the next generation of artificial vision aids”. Northumbria University (2021). https://newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases