Bionic eye... a reality!

[Super.Niki]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.j ... eye121.xml

Just saw an article on the news. How amazing is this! I really hope it works out for the patients!

[johnhcrf]

Do you know anyone who would benefit from this? Would it help the blind from birth?

[Super.Niki]

I don't know anyone personally (I don't think) and I'm not sure how advanced the technology is at the moment.... I just thought it was amazing and if it does come along in the next few years imagine the lives it could change?

[Brij]

The article I read on this suggests that it will be on the NHS in 3-5 years (assuming the NHS survives that long...) so that would suggest to me that they are very very close to something that is of a life-changing standard. Though by the account of one lady who has received such an implant it has already changed her life.

The article from The Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 790683.ece

Brought a little tear to my eye to read it [/url]

[Lincolnshirelass]

Something which is getting less press, but will affect even more people is the fact that trials for a dual-lens implantation operation for people with Macular Degeneration are underway.

Sounds very technical, but basically, as you get older, LOTS of people get patches of vision which just don't work, and you end up functionally blind. This affects huge numbers of older people (and the not so old - my 37 year old husband has it) and there is finally something on offer for them :-)

It runs in my husband's family (and therefore in my kids) from a very early age, and we're all pretty darned thrilled to hear that there's a treatment. We're all putting pennies into piggybanks already :-D

Many people might moan about the NHS, but they're doing wonderfully in my books at the moment!