Key Highlights:
- The bionic eye is becoming the new hope for visually impaired patients.
- Several global market leaders are participating in the innovation to explore the potential of the bionic eye.
- First-hand experience from the patient outlines that he can difference between light and dark.
Bionic Eye is a possible option today due to the recent advancements in the science and technology industry. The recent invention is restoring the hope of patients who are partially sighted due to injury, illness, or genetics.
The WHO has confirmed that nearly 40 million people are suffering from blindness on a global scale and nearly 135 million are affected by low vision. In such circumstances, a solution has become the need of the hour and the bionic eye seems to lead the way in revolutionizing eye technology.
How does the bionic eye work?
A healthy eye functions when the light enters the pupil and through the lens, the light focuses that light on the eye, the photoreceptors turn the light into electrical signals that travel through the optic nerve to the brain that interprets the images.
If this system is interrupted, or if there are diseases that affected the retina, the technology bridges the gap. The technology makes up for the part defective in the system.
Considering the rising demand for the need of bionic eyes, there are several global market leaders are exploring the potential of the bionic eye in current times. The market leaders such as Second Sight Medical Products LLC, Monash Vision Group, Nano Retina Ltd., Bionic Vision Technologies, Nidek Co. Ltd., MetaModal LLC, Biomedical Technologies S.L., and Pixium Vision among others.
Patient first-hand experience
Keith Hayman was the first patient to receive a bionic eye. While in his 20s, he was diagnosed with pigmentosa and was gradually blinded in the coming years. In 2009, Keith Hayman was fitted with the bionic eye at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. After this, he was able to see the difference between dark and light and also detect moving.
Keith Hayman expressed, “It means I can see my grandchildren for the first time. When they come round to see me they wear white t-shirts to help me keep an eye on them. I couldn’t tell you much about what they look like, but at least I can see them coming now!”
