Artificial retina helps some blind people

[Kadie]

Artificial retina helps some blind people

By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer – Mon Feb 14, 8:20 am ET

LONDON – For two decades, Eric Selby had been completely blind and dependent on a guide dog to get around. But after having an artificial retina put into his right eye, he can detect ordinary things like the curb and pavement when he's walking outside.

"It's basically flashes of light that you have to translate in your brain, but it's amazing I can see anything at all," said Selby, a retired engineer in Coventry, central England.

More than a year ago, the 68-year-old had an artificial implant called the Argus II, made by U.S.-based company Second Sight, surgically inserted into his right eye. Dutch regulators are expected to decide within weeks on the company's request to market the device in the EU. If greenlighted, it would be the first artificial retina available for sale.

The implant works with a tiny video camera and transmitter in a pair of glasses and a small wireless computer.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110214/ap_on_hi_te/eu_med_artificial_retina_2


In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, Eric Selby and his guide dog Dino pose for a photograph with a 'sight' camera fitted in a pair of glasses, as well as its associated computer and transmitter, which work in conjunction with an artificial retina implant called the Argus II fitted in his right eye, enabling him to detect light, in Coventry, England. For two decades, Eric Selby, 68, had been completely blind and dependent on a guide dog to get around. But after having an artificial retina put into his right eye, he can detect ordinary things like the curb and pavement when he's walking outside. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)



In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, Eric Selby poses for a photograph with a 'sight' camera fitted in a pair of glasses, as well as its associated computer and transmitter, which work in conjunction with an artificial retina implant called the Argus II fitted in his right eye, enabling him to detect light, in Coventry, England. For two decades, Eric Selby, 68, had been completely blind and dependent on a guide dog to get around. But after having an artificial retina put into his right eye, he can detect ordinary things like the curb and pavement when he's walking outside. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)



In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011,Eric Selby poses for a photograph with a 'sight' camera fitted in a pair of glasses, which works in conjunction with an artificial retina implant called the Argus II fitted in his right eye, enabling him to detect light, in Coventry, England. For two decades, Eric Selby, 68, had been completely blind and dependent on a guide dog to get around. But after having an artificial retina put into his right eye, he can detect ordinary things like the curb and pavement when he's walking outside. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)

[truedelphi]

1. That is so amazing.

Wonder what we could accomplish if all the money now going to war and armaments was instead put to humanitarian uses.

[drm604]

2. I suspect that this is something that will improve rapidly.

With better understanding of optic nerves and the brain, and more and more compact electronics I think we'll be doing amazing things with vision.