Existing bionic eyes (visual prostheses) today typically consist of an electronic device implanted behind the retina, wirelessly connected to a miniature camera embedded in eyeglasses.
A small flock of sheep in Australia lived for three months last year with artificial bionic eyes implanted behind their retinas. The ultimate goal of the research was to help blind people see the light again, and the next task was to test the compatibility of the device called “Phoenix 99” with living tissue. The result was positive, and soon the invention will be tested on humans. The project is being conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Sydney and the Australian state of New South Wales.
“Feniks 99” is wirelessly connected to a tiny video camera attached to eyeglasses and stimulates retinal activity. Retina – A layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. They convert light into electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain, where an image is formed.
The device “Phoenix 99” will soon be tested on humans. “Phoenix 99” takes images from a video camera and stimulates the optic nerve, bypassing inactive retinal cells and stimulating those that are still functional. “There was no adverse reaction from the surrounding tissue to the device. We believe it can stay in place for many years,” says Samuel Egenberger of the University of Sydney’s School of Biomedical Engineering.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from visual impairment, ranging from minor vision problems to total blindness. The cost to the global economy is estimated at $25 billion per year. Treating blindness with bionic eyes is still in its infancy, but modern technology is advancing rapidly. One study estimates that the global market for these services will reach $426 million by 2028.
“Technological advances are reshaping ophthalmology,” says Diana Hilal-Kampo, M.D., a New Jersey ophthalmologist. “Innovations are not only enabling more accurate diagnoses, but also advancing treatment methods.”
As an example, she cites another bionic eye, “Argus II,” from the American company Second Sight, which is already being used by more than 350 people worldwide.
Turchanka Dilek Umran Oztyurk received the Argus II bionic eye in 2015 and saw the outlines of objects for the first time. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what will happen next. The number of offers should remain: Episodes The end of the story: Advertising Podcasts Now Second Sight is working on a new product called “Orion”. It is a brain implant that, according to its creators, will be able to cure virtually all forms of profound blindness. The project is in the early stages of clinical trials. Other similar systems include “Prima” from the French company Pixium Vision and “Bionic Vision System” from the Australian developer Bionic Vision Technologies.
Recently there have been reports that Second Sight went bankrupt during the pandemic and was allegedly purchased by a company involved in another business. There is no mention of this on the Second Sight website, but there is a note that the “Argus” devices are no longer supported (legacy product). Regarding the “Orion” device, the same website mentions that it is an investigational device, a device for research purposes, and according to U.S. federal law, it is not intended for anything else. – Note from the Russian service of the BBC.
According to Hilal-Kampo, the main problem today is the high price of such devices, which makes them available to only a few. The Argus II, for example, costs about 150 thousand dollars. And because the technology is still in its infancy, the results are not always satisfactory. “Obviously, it has improved the lives of patients who have been lucky enough to use it, but for now, these implants can only distinguish between light and shadow and, to some extent, the outlines of objects,” says Hilal-Kampo.
Dr. Hilal-Kampo says that bionic eyes must first become cheaper. “But I look to the future with optimism and am confident that in the years to come, biotech companies will find new ways to restore sight to people.”
London ophthalmologist Bhavin Shah agrees that bionic eyes are a long way from perfection. He compares them to digital cameras, which were first introduced in 1975 but did not become widely available until decades later. “When the technology reaches an acceptable level, more or less comparable to what a healthy eye sees, it will be widely used. For now, the focus is on treating eyes to prevent blindness. At this stage, Bhavin Shah believes that early detection methods are more important. “They are more advanced, easier to use and more reliable,” he says. “For example, we can quickly scan intraocular structures, examine them at high resolution, and quickly share data with colleagues. Artificial intelligence speeds up decision-making and, in some cases, provides greater accuracy than experienced physicians.
Professor Karen Squire, director of the Low Vision Service at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, says that sometimes the most important achievements in eye care are the most basic.
According to Dr. Karen Squire, it is not so much biotechnology as smartphone applications that have made life easier for the visually impaired. For example, iPhone apps include a speech feature that tells you what is on the screen – from battery level to incoming call detection – and verbally tells you which app you have touched with your finger. Or take Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, which uses your smartphone’s camera to recognize people and objects and talk about them. It can also identify barcodes and read handwritten text aloud, such as a letter from your grandson or granddaughter. “This technology is of great interest to people because it can do a lot of different things, and it doesn’t require anything other than a camera and software that are already in your phone,” says Dr. Squire. “Plus, it’s not hard to learn how to use.”
“Smartphones are capable of conversing with visually impaired and blind owners.” Squire also emphasizes the importance of creating an accessible environment for the visually impaired – for example, by equipping bus stops with audio devices that provide information about the schedule and arrival time of the next bus.
That is not to say that Professor Squire underestimates the prospects of complex technological solutions such as the bionic eye. “It is a step in the right direction, but we have yet to see where it will lead,” she says.
