How Far are we from a Bionic Eye?

It may sound like science fiction but bionic eyes already exist and they work quite well. Even after major eye damage has been done, the technology provides remarkable restorative capability. As project leader / Professor Sheila Nirenberg of Weill Cornell Medical College, New York notes "This is the first prosthetic that has the potential to provide normal or near-normal vision..." To accomplish this, a chip is implanted in the eye to translate the visual field into electrical signals. Those signals are then passed as light impulses that stimulate photosensitive proteins in the retina.

Although the chip is an integral part of their system, gene therapy is also used to stimulate light-sensitive proteins in ganglion retinal cells. Unlike competing systems, the process allows the actual "code" to be transferred resulted in a more realistic depiction of the outside world. Their experiments revealed blind mice were able to recognize facial details and similar results were reported with monkeys. The latter case is particularly exciting because monkey retinas are closely related to human retinas.

Before the breakthrough can be applied to humans, several extensive trials will likely be needed to satisfy safety requirements. Gene therapy is a particular concern but the chip itself must also not cause excessive irritation or other unwieldy side effects. It is unfortunate that we may very well have the technology to help the blind now but the threat of litigation and politics involved stifle innovation and make today's reality just a hope for the future.