The Bionic Eye Implant Surgery: A New Hope for Vision Loss

The development of a bionic eye implant is an important new milestone in ophthalmology, especially for people with retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration describes the progressive loss of retinal cells. As the retina is the primary conversion of light into neural signals for the brain, retinal degeneration can lead to serious vision loss or blindness.

The bionic eye procedure involves implanting a microelectronic chip, referred to as a retinal implant, in the eye. The retinal implant cannot function alone, but rather in conjunction with an external camera, commonly worn on glasses. After capturing visual information through the external camera, it gets processed and transformed into electrical signals. The micro-electronically implanted chip gets the processed electrical signals and wirelessly.

The development of a bionic eye implant is an important new milestone in ophthalmology, especially for people with retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration describes the progressive loss of retinal cells. As the retina is the primary conversion of light into neural signals for the brain, retinal degeneration can lead to serious vision loss or blindness.

The bionic eye procedure involves implanting a microelectronic chip, referred to as a retinal implant, in the eye. The retinal implant cannot function alone, but rather in conjunction with an external camera, commonly worn on glasses. After capturing visual information through the external camera, it gets processed and transformed into electrical signals. The micro-electronically implanted chip gets the processed electrical signals and wirelessly stimulates any remaining viable retinal cells. The resulting cell activity creates a signal transmitted to the brain, allowing for partial vision restoration.

The visual capabilities provided through this implant are limited, usually to being able to recognize shapes, outlines, or movement of large objects; although providing partial vision restoration, this limited ability will improve independence and quality of life for a person diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. As a progressive disease currently without a known cure, the bionic eye and an opportunity for partial vision restoration is very beneficial.

With that said, there are inherent risks that stem from the procedure itself. Risks include but are not limited to: postoperative infection, and swelling/inflammation of the eye, as well as technical malfunction. The cost of the procedure may prohibit many patients from obtaining the implant and it may not be suitable for all patients.

Still, the bionic eye demonstrates the advances that can be made by modern science and technology for those who experience significant visual impairment and while it does not restore vision entirely, it does offer exciting possibilities to the most visually impaired in the future of eye care.

Written by Ariela Okanta at Incisionary

 APA References

Bionic Eye Implant Technology. (n.d.). Tufts Medicine. http://tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/bionic-eye-implant-technology

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https://www.eyenews.uk.com/features/ophthalmology/post/the-bionic-eye-behind-the-headlines

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC). (2022, June 8). The Bionic Eye | Fighting Blindness Canada. http://fightingblindness.ca/resources/the-bionic-eye/

Home. (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/

Merabet, L. B. (2011). Building the bionic eye: an emerging reality and opportunity. Progress in Brain Research, 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-53355-5.00001-4

Retinal diseases - Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/retinal-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20355825