Revolutionary eye implants have restored sight to the blind
By tucking high-tech implants inside people's eyes, researchers in Germany have given three blind people the ability to see.
The implants only work for those suffering from a hereditary condition called retinal dystrophy, which causes the eye's light receptors to degenerate. The implant is placed inside the rear wall of the eye, and completely replaces those lost receptors, while retaining the eye's original ability to interpret light, so it doesn't require additional processing.
So far, the device has been successfully implanted in three individuals. According to the researchers, one of them is now able to "identify and find objects placed on a table in front of him, as well as walking around a room independently and approaching people, reading a clock face and differentiating seven shades of grey."
The research was undertaken by the company Retinal Implant AG together with the Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the University of Tuebingen, and you can read the full scientific paper via Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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