First Bionic Eye Operation Successful

***VamPyroX*** · 04-22-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Surgeons have carried out the first operations in Britain using a pioneering “bionic eye” that could in future help to restore blind people’s sight.

Two successful operations to implant the device into the eyes of two blind patients have been conducted at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

The device — the first of its kind — incorporates a video camera and transmitter mounted on a pair of glasses. This is linked to an artificial retina, which transmits moving images along the optic nerve to the brain and enables the patient to discriminate rudimentary images of motion, light and dark.

The operations were conducted as part of an international clinical trial of the technology, known as the Argus II retinal implant, which has already proved successful in restoring rudimentary vision to patients who have become blind because of common conditions such as age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa.

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Wow... this is awesome. One of these days, the blind can see!

No, this doesn't mean they're cured though.

sequoias · 04-22-2008, 01:01 PM

I wonder what's the screen resolution of the video camera? They won't be able to see clearly as a normal human eye can see.

***VamPyroX*** · 04-22-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoias

I wonder what's the screen resolution of the video camera? They won't be able to see clearly as a normal human eye can see.

According to the article, the implant had 16 electrodes.

The next one has 60 electrodes.

They're working on one that has 1,000 electrodes to help them with facial recognition.

Does that give you a clearer picture of what the resolution might be?

jillio · 04-22-2008, 02:26 PM

As it stand right now though, the devise only provides "rudimentary" vision. That means that they may be able to see contrasts of light and dark, or big shapes, but not details. Kind of like hearing a noise with an HA, but not being able to discriminate what it is.

***VamPyroX*** · 04-22-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

As it stand right now though, the devise only provides "rudimentary" vision. That means that they may be able to see contrasts of light and dark, or big shapes, but not details. Kind of like hearing a noise with an HA, but not being able to discriminate what it is.

Right. It also depends on the person's previous ability to see.

If a person used to hear before and then became deaf, that person would still be able to determine some sounds when he got a new hearing aid.

A person who was completely blind since birth would have a harder time with this technology since the body doesn't immediately know how to adapt and would take more time to get used to it.

jillio · 04-22-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Right. It also depends on the person's previous ability to see.

If a person used to hear before and then became deaf, that person would still be able to determine some sounds when he got a new hearing aid.

A person who was completely blind since birth would have a harder time with this technology since the body doesn't immediately know how to adapt and would take more time to get used to it.

Agreed.

Boult · 04-22-2008, 03:54 PM

That remind me of Commander Geordi La Forge of Star Trek: TNG

STARTREK.COM*:*Biography

sequoias · 04-22-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

According to the article, the implant had 16 electrodes.

The next one has 60 electrodes.

They're working on one that has 1,000 electrodes to help them with facial recognition.

Does that give you a clearer picture of what the resolution might be?

hmmm sounds very low resolution for sure. I wonder how many eletrodes in a normal human eye compared to 16 currently?

PowerON · 04-22-2008, 05:49 PM

Let me know when there is available with laser and x-ray.

***VamPyroX*** · 04-22-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boult

That remind me of Commander Geordi La Forge of Star Trek: TNG

STARTREK.COM*:*Biography

And... G'Kar from Babylon 5.

When he lost his eye, he got a new bionic eye. The cool thing though was that the eye also wirelessly connects to the inside of his head. So, he could remove his eyeball and still see what the eyeball was seeing. There was one part where a couple recently got married and he "accidentally left" his eyeball in their bedroom.

deafdyke · 04-22-2008, 09:00 PM

and this sounds like TOTALLY blind folks, not just legally blind folks. Most blind people have SOME residual vision, just as most dhh folks have some residual hearing.

Aleser · 04-23-2008, 06:22 AM

My first thought about this is 'crap.'- you can bet every parent of a blind child is just going to use this 'implant' as an excuse to teach their child that the best route is to sit around and wait for a doctor's fix.

IMHO, it -should- be just as controversial as cochlear implants- a few years, advance in technology, and some trials, and this could become just as commonplace. Which sucks.

'Yay, science can make blind people see!' doesn't sound as cool when you think of the sacrifices made for the sake of sight.

Kalista · 04-23-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

As it stand right now though, the devise only provides "rudimentary" vision. That means that they may be able to see contrasts of light and dark, or big shapes, but not details. Kind of like hearing a noise with an HA, but not being able to discriminate what it is.

That reminds me of Six Million Dollar Man, bionic eye.

Kalista · 04-23-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerON

Let me know when there is available with laser and x-ray.

Be careful, can see through your naked body !

GarnetTigerMom · 04-23-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Right. It also depends on the person's previous ability to see.

If a person used to hear before and then became deaf, that person would still be able to determine some sounds when he got a new hearing aid.

A person who was completely blind since birth would have a harder time with this technology since the body doesn't immediately know how to adapt and would take more time to get used to it.

I have to agree with everything you said. It make perfect sense.

GarnetTigerMom · 04-23-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleser

My first thought about this is 'crap.'- you can bet every parent of a blind child is just going to use this 'implant' as an excuse to teach their child that the best route is to sit around and wait for a doctor's fix.

IMHO, it -should- be just as controversial as cochlear implants- a few years, advance in technology, and some trials, and this could become just as commonplace. Which sucks.

'Yay, science can make blind people see!' doesn't sound as cool when you think of the sacrifices made for the sake of sight.

Actually, I don't think it crap because teachology have come long way. It not the first time I have heard about that. They did use that teachology on a blind dog and it works. There was a movie also about a blind man true story about him I forgot the titile but will look it up for you. He was blind in both his eyes. He met a woman fell in love with her and she courage him to get sugery to be able to see again. But the doctor did warn him of the risks he can go blind again. But he took the risk and only see lik a few months. It took his brain to learn to understands colors, shape, and things look like. I was impress by the movie. :-)

GarnetTigerMom · 04-23-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleser

My first thought about this is 'crap.'- you can bet every parent of a blind child is just going to use this 'implant' as an excuse to teach their child that the best route is to sit around and wait for a doctor's fix.

IMHO, it -should- be just as controversial as cochlear implants- a few years, advance in technology, and some trials, and this could become just as commonplace. Which sucks.

'Yay, science can make blind people see!' doesn't sound as cool when you think of the sacrifices made for the sake of sight.

Okay I found it it called " At First Sight " movie about himself being blind and then see again. This is a very good movie.

***VamPyroX*** · 04-23-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarnetTigerMom

Okay I found it it called " At First Sight " movie about himself being blind and then see again. This is a very good movie.

Yeah, I saw that... with Val Kilmer.

When he was finally able to see, there was one problem... he could not truly see what he was seeing. He had no depth perception.

If you showed him a picture of an apple, he wouldn't know if it was a picture or a real apple. He would just know that it was an apple.

GarnetTigerMom · 04-23-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Yeah, I saw that... with Val Kilmer.

When he was finally able to see, there was one problem... he could not truly see what he was seeing. He had no depth perception.

If you showed him a picture of an apple, he wouldn't know if it was a picture or a real apple. He would just know that it was an apple.

yeah that right, I remember looking back about that movie. It was like he was confuse by what he was seeing and had hard time understanding colors and shapes and the things he sees. I guess he been so used to using his hearing and touching. For a while he could see then he went back being blind again. I think the movie was great when a person willing to take a risk even if that means he will go though the rough emotional trauma.

deafdyke · 04-24-2008, 12:05 AM

Yes, it was At First Sight. It was based on a story by Oliver Sacks.
Honestly, I think this is gonna not effect too many people. Besides, the story by Oliver Sacks said that they've found that people who are (born/early blinded) blind, but get operations/treatment that would cause them to physically see, haven't had much sucess in learning how to actually see like a sighted person.

Aleser · 04-24-2008, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarnetTigerMom

Actually, I don't think it crap because teachology have come long way. It not the first time I have heard about that. They did use that teachology on a blind dog and it works. There was a movie also about a blind man true story about him I forgot the titile but will look it up for you. He was blind in both his eyes. He met a woman fell in love with her and she courage him to get sugery to be able to see again. But the doctor did warn him of the risks he can go blind again. But he took the risk and only see lik a few months. It took his brain to learn to understands colors, shape, and things look like. I was impress by the movie. :-)

Just because it CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be done.

Miss-Delectable · 04-24-2008, 09:56 AM

I felt this.....Feels like the hype about CI is carrying over to this procedure.

Not good at all because often it encourages parents to over raise their expectation with the child.

deafdyke · 04-25-2008, 11:58 PM

Oh.....and notice at least ONE of the patients is late blinded. It's a far stretch that blind kids will benifit from this.

Babyblue · 04-26-2008, 12:05 AM

I think it is wonderful that technology is able to help people.

GarnetTigerMom · 04-26-2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I think it is wonderful that technology is able to help people.

I agree wi

04-22-2008, 01:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
sequoias Subaru rules! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The Evergreen State Posts: 12,774	I wonder what's the screen resolution of the video camera? They won't be able to see clearly as a normal human eye can see. __________________

04-22-2008, 05:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
PowerON Please don't click me! D: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Would like to live at Fort Davis, TX Posts: 4,780 Blog Entries: 1	Let me know when there is available with laser and x-ray. __________________ • [Illustrator.Blog-alloon.com] • Don't shoot me! I'm only blogger!

04-23-2008, 06:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
Aleser Woosh. Yes, Woosh. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 568	My first thought about this is 'crap.'- you can bet every parent of a blind child is just going to use this 'implant' as an excuse to teach their child that the best route is to sit around and wait for a doctor's fix. IMHO, it -should- be just as controversial as cochlear implants- a few years, advance in technology, and some trials, and this could become just as commonplace. Which sucks. 'Yay, science can make blind people see!' doesn't sound as cool when you think of the sacrifices made for the sake of sight. __________________ "She thinks... she can make people do what she wants or needs, what is right, by the sheer force of her own talent, not by forcing them... she can teach them and persuade them... that they'll catch it from her. This is still faith in their rationality, in the omnipotence of reason. The mistake? Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them."

04-24-2008, 09:56 AM	#22 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 3	I felt this.....Feels like the hype about CI is carrying over to this procedure. Not good at all because often it encourages parents to over raise their expectation with the child. __________________

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04-22-2008, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,197	As it stand right now though, the devise only provides "rudimentary" vision. That means that they may be able to see contrasts of light and dark, or big shapes, but not details. Kind of like hearing a noise with an HA, but not being able to discriminate what it is.

04-22-2008, 09:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,684	and this sounds like TOTALLY blind folks, not just legally blind folks. Most blind people have SOME residual vision, just as most dhh folks have some residual hearing.

04-24-2008, 12:05 AM	#20 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,684	Yes, it was At First Sight. It was based on a story by Oliver Sacks. Honestly, I think this is gonna not effect too many people. Besides, the story by Oliver Sacks said that they've found that people who are (born/early blinded) blind, but get operations/treatment that would cause them to physically see, haven't had much sucess in learning how to actually see like a sighted person.

04-25-2008, 11:58 PM	#23 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,684	Oh.....and notice at least ONE of the patients is late blinded. It's a far stretch that blind kids will benifit from this.

04-26-2008, 12:05 AM	#24 (permalink)
Babyblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,550	I think it is wonderful that technology is able to help people.