Australian scientists have a "bionic eye" to the blind

The Government of Australia today unveiled a prototype of a "bionic eye" whose makers hope will be able to restore sight to many blind and the biggest milestone since the development of the Braille alphabet.

The initiative, which Canberra has invested 42 million dollars (38.6 million U.S. dollars), "may be one of the most important medical advances of our generation," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

"The bionic eye project will enable Australia to stay at the forefront of this research and marketing, and can restore sight to thousands of people around the world," said Rudd.

According to Australian scientists, the invention is partially implanted in the eyeball and is designed for patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by an inherited genetic condition known as retinitis pigmentosa.

The "bionic eye" has a mini camera, placed on a lens, which captures images and sends them to a processor that can be kept in his pocket.

The device transmits a signal to the unit within the retina that stimulates the neurons live within it, which in turn send the images to the brain.

Users of the "bionic eye" view will no longer be perfect, but they are expected to be able to distinguish points of light that the brain can reconstruct images.

Source: EFE News
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