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WEEKLY NEWS 3: Bionic Eye

When blind people get their sight restored, they are able to enjoy reading, driving and seeing loved ones again. The newest aid for eyesight is a computer chip! This "bionic eye" is not robotic, however. It’s a human eye enhanced with electronics.

Blind people cannot see because light does not reach their retinas. The bionic eye designed by scientists at Johns Hopkins University sends messages to a computer chip--called a retinal implant--located in the back of the eye. Those who will use the bionic eye will have special glasses with a camera attached to them. The camera sends a beam of information to the computer chip, which then sends the information to the brain. The electronic relay of information replaces the need for light to reach the retina.

Often older people slowly go blind from macular degeneration. The computer chip and camera work together with the healthy parts of the eye that are not damaged by macular degeneration.

Even though the damaged human eye is improved with bionic technology, the visualizations produced by the bionic eye are not precise. Scientists still struggle to produce pictures with details. The vision is very basic. However, it is still a great improvement for anyone who has lost their vision.

--Written by Katheryn Troyer

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