Prototype bionic eye developed, implantable version coming in 2013

Researchers in Australia have come up with a prototype bionic eye which could be ready for implant in 2013, courtesy a 42 million dollar funding that the Australian government has provided the Bionic Vision Australia. This aid would help researchers at Bionic Vision Australia in developing a functional retinal implant that’ll help cure vision issues ranging from retinitis pigmentosa (degenerative vision loss) to age-related macular degeneration.

bionic

For technology the prototype is has an external camera and a processing unit that sends signals and power to the device that’ll be planted inside the eye, there will be with electrodes at the back of the eye on the surface of the retina which would be simulated to convey information down the optic nerve to the brain (the video cortex of the brain). Researchers believe that the brain will be able to interpret this information and remodel a visual image helping the patient see.

Via: The Age/Dawn