The new BIONIC eye which can CURE BLINDNESS

Eyesight breakthrough: Scientists have made a major breakthrough which will provide hope many

 

MAJOR scientific discovery could mean a cure for blindness is on the cards

 

Scientists have made a major breakthrough which will provide hope to 20,000 people suffering from an incurable eye disease.

The cutting-edge research found a bionic device could improve vision by sharpening an image using specific and long electric pulses.

Longer pulses meant the bionic implant worked better and heightened focus, the scientists found.

 

The changes to the retina transplant could save the eyesight of thousands

 

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) affects one in 4,000 people and is a disease of the eye that leads to loss of vision and devastating blindness. 

It causes permanent changes to vision, varying from person to person. 

The retinal changes affect side vision, making seeing in dim light incredibly challenging and central vision - making simple tasks such as television or reading a book difficult. 

Researchers stimulated an implant at the back of a participant’s eye using long electrical pulses - and it was the longer length of these pulses that made all the difference.

 

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) affects one in 4,000 people

 

This stimulation was enough to allow visualisation of distinct focal spots of light. 

Andrew Weitz, PhD, assistant professor of research ophthalmology said: "This is a huge step forward in helping restore sight for people with retinitis pigmentosa.

“Being able to create focused spots of light is important. Think of each light spot as a pixel in an image. By arranging many light spots into the shape of an object, we can generate sharp images of that object.

“For those of us who wear glasses, imagine the difference between trying to read a distant neon sign with and without your glasses on.

“For people with retinal implants, being able to see more clearly should have a big impact on their ability to recognise objects and navigate their environments.

 

These improvements are an exciting discovery

 

“These improvements in vision can really boost a person's sense of independence and confidence.”

Current artificial retinas do exist and allow patients the opportunity to perceive light, using a camera mounted on a pair of glasses and electronic signals that stimulate the neutrons responsible for eyesight. 

Not only would this new discovery make the current clunkier process more streamlined, but it would also allow a better quality of vision. 

Experts say the findings support that artificial vision is a very real possibility for people suffering with RP and that high-resolution retinal implants could, and should, be developed.