Longevity science

Here you can see an animation of the bionic eye being developed in Melbourne, Australia by the Bionic Vision Australia consortium.

We reported on this implant earlier in the month.

http://www.scoop.it/t/longevity-science/p/2556266512/first-australian-bionic-eye-prototype-successfully-implanted

Researchers have discovered a chemical that makes cells in the retinas of blind mice sensitive to light, temporarily restoring some vision.

They are working on an improved compound that they hope could one day be used to restore sight in human patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, the most common form of inherited blindness, and macular degeneration, the most common cause of acquired blindness in the developed world.

Australian researchers implanted a new version of a bionic eye into a blind woman. The subject had experienced years of darkness due to retinitis pigmentosa, but when the implant was activated, she could see light and shapes.

The implant behind the retina sends electrical impulses along the optic nervers and into the brain, which processes these signals despite the fact that they are not actually originiating from the retina.