Wireless Solar-Powered 'Bionic Eye' Could Give Sight To The Blind

Could This Solar-Powered 'Bionic Eye' Be The Cure For Blindness?

Scientists have developed a wireless, solar-powered bionic eye that can give sight to blind rats in medical trials.

Although it hasn't yet been tested in humans, the eye is a pretty amazing invention. Tiny microchips are implanted into the retina which translate signals beamed from a camera mounted on a set of video glasses.

The microchips convert pulse light into electrical signals - and don't require a power source.

The camera is mounted on a pair of glasses

The signals are transmitted to the brain and viola! The patient can see.

Tests so far have been limited to rats with macular degradation, but as this is the leading cause of blindness in humans the results are promising.

The system is the latest version of bionic eye developed by scientists at Stanford University.

Previous models lacked the wireless connection between the camera and the microchips and relied on a small cable potentially leading to infection and other complications.

Watch the video above for a very wordy and slightly squeamish demonstration of how the technology works.

The findings were originally published in the journal Nature.

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