Camera-Like Device Makes Some Eye Patients See Better

Four patients with an advanced eye disease now have improved vision thanks to device implanted in their eyes. Previously, the patients only had limited peripheral vision because of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD, according to the National Eye Institute, is a common eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss for aged 50 and older. AMD causes damage to a tiny area near the center of the retina that is called the macula. The macula is needed for sharp, central vision, allowing people to see objects that are in front of us.

Doctors successfully implanted a device called the Argus II electronic epiretinal prosthesis in four patients, according to Live Science. The device is a small camera attached to the back of the eye. It captures images and sends electrical signals to a person's brain.

Bionic Implant Improves Vision for Some Eye Patients https://t.co/ZFOxqPhm2I

— Live Science (@LiveScience) May 6, 2016

Device Enables Eye Patients To See Details

According to researchers, the implanted device has allowed the patients to "recognize the outline of faces and some facial characteristics, such as whether the mouth was open or closed." These were details that the patients had been missing on because of AMD.

At first, the researchers were apprehensive about how the brain of the patients would take in the combination of the natural electrical impulses from the eye and the artificial electrical impulses from the implant. The results were good, as no patient was "confused" on the things they were seeing when the device was turned on, reported Live Science. The implant was also tolerated by the patients' bodies for six months.

Eye Patients To Be Tested With Eye Patch

Another research, this time a proof-of-concept study, had favorable results for patients with AMD. Scientists had developed an eye patch that contains retinal cells to replace those that are damaged by AMD.

MD Magazine reported that for a 4 x 2 mm patch, about 70,000 to 80,000 cells are needed. The patch has been tested in pigs and is now up for clinical studies in actual patients. Both researches were presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Seattle, Washington.

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