- US scientists have designed a bionic eye to allow blind
people to see again.
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- It comprises a computer chip that sits in the back of
the individual's eye, linked up to a mini video camera built into glasses
that they wear.
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- Images captured by the camera are beamed to the chip,
which translates them into impulses that the brain can interpret.
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- The device has been designed by Professor Gislin Dagnelie
at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
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- Professor Dagnelie unveiled details at a Royal National
Institute for the Blind conference in London, UK, on Monday.
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- Human trials will begin within a year, hopes Professor
Dagnelie.
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- Although the images produced by the artificial eye were
far from perfect, they could be clear enough to allow someone who is otherwise
blind to recognise faces, he said.
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- The breakthrough is likely to benefit patients with the
most common cause of blindness, macular degeneration, which affects 500,000
people in the UK.
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- This occurs when there is damage to the macula, which
is in the central part of the retina where light is focussed and changed
into nerve signals in the middle of the brain.
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- The implant bypasses the diseased cells in the retina
and stimulates the remaining viable cells.
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- See the light
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- Professor Dagnelie said: "The retinal implant contains
tiny electrodes. If you stimulate a single electrode, the person will see
a single dot of light."
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- They have already tested implants containing a handful
of electrodes, but the end device will contain 50-100 to give a better
overall picture.
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- "We are hoping this will be enough for the person
to be able to make their way through a building, find a door or window
and avoid obstacles for example.
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- "To us, the images look very basic but for someone
who was previously blind they are a massive step forward."
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- But he added: "There is still quite a bit of work
that will be needed to fine tune it. Being able to see faces will be quite
a bit down the line."
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- He said training the individual to learn how to interpret
the blurry images should help.
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- Anita Lifestone of the RNIB, said: "This is a revolutionary
piece of technology and really has the potential to change people's lives.
But we need to be aware it is still some way in the future."
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- © BBC MMV
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4411591.stm
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