How many scientists does it take to properly install a lightbulb? When that lightbulb is
an implant that
stimulates retinal photoreceptors to
restore one's sight, quite a few -- even if they disagree whether said implant should be placed
on top of the retina (requiring glasses to supply power and video feed) or
underneath, using photocells to channel natural sunlight. Now, a German firm dubbed Retina Implant has scored a big win for the subretinal solution with a three-millimeter, 1,500 pixel microchip that gives patients a 12 degree field of view. Conducting human trials with 11 patients suffering from
retinitis pigmentosa, the company successfully performed operations on seven, with one even managing to distinguish between similar objects (knife, fork, spoon) and perform very basic reading. Though usual disclaimers apply -- the tech is still a long way off, it only works on folks who've
slowly lost their vision, etc. -- this seems like a step in the right direction, and at least one man now knows which direction that is.
posted March 20th 2010 8:21AM
+1 for science.
@oldpass56
I'm amazed at the amount of scientists that work on different, very specific things. Kudos, for sure.
@oldpass56 Science is now Lvl 37, +100 HP, +2 Def, gains "resistance to Blind"
At Lvl 50 Science gains "immunity to Blind"
@oldpass56
+ 1 for God.
@SuperGadget Yeah, not so much.
So it sits in the fovea and stimulates degenerated cones?
@martynmcfarquhar
Not sure on the details but thats what it seems like.
Science makes anything possible.
We are living in a golden age.
@Downpour
I don't know about that, I'm pretty sure one day my grandson will laugh at me for using the toilet.
@Techno1q
More apt to laugh at you for not using it though :(
@Techno1q classic
Wait,
(11 test subjects) - (7 successful operations) = 4 eyeless people?
"yeah, sorry about that".
@Benhur
Haha. I guess the implant just didn't work so they removed it and the patients were no worse off. I doubt it would get through ethics otherwise!
Install one on the back of my head so I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder!
must be an amazing experience to finally see again.
Science, fuck yeah!
My Dad suffers from that. It would be nice to know that in the future he could gain his sight back with technology.
the ipad is much cooler than this
@wickersty
You are one piece of shit. iPad has nothing to do with this. I was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa. This news is like additional fuel to my hope and everyone's else who suffered the same thing.
-Going Blind Guy
@wickersty
http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Rob/help.png
@Sogeking epic comic referencing my friend.
@sshole
Thanks for not being an assh-
...nvm
Great news for me and all athers who have the same condition.
I believe that in 4 or 5 years the technology will catch up.
As for now it's a huge step forword and a proof of concept
It gives me hope that as my vision fails due to retinitis pigmentosis that i too may one day use this or similiar technology. at the moment my field of view is about one degree and having just 12 degrees sure sound pretty good to me.
Now if only all those selffish softwrare companies would just make their software gui black background friendly, or give users like me the ability to control the color, fonts, size of each page...i'd be really happy.
Are you listening Apple? Logitech? Stardock? Canon? and even Microsoft
i almost forgot...i would love to see engadget for iphone app almost be black background friendly too. unfortunately the iphone accessibility option to use white on black only works if the page has a white background to begin with. not all the pages are just white or just almost black...it is a mixed bag and that white on black doesn't know the difference. too bad i can't control the color, fonts, and font sizing of each page independantly....
Apple...are you reading this.... i have been writing, emailing, and calling you on this for almost three years with no answer of any kind..
@jallis
On OS X you can hit cmd+alt+ctrl+8 and invert all the colours. You can also zoom in using ctrl+mouse wheel, and set accessibility to increase zoom distance. Most apps you can also change the font size.
They're not tonnes of options but there are some things you can do. I don't know about Windows, I presume they must have some similar accessibility options.
@jallis
Sorry I replied to your original comment so I didn't know you were talking about the iPhone. Accessibility controls are the same on OS X. Nevermind then!
Could play Mario on that
it would sure beat playing backgammon all the time
martynmcfarquhar
thanks for the suggestions. i did take a look at os x and found that if you did the white on black option iphoto turned photo into what looked like negatives. overall i found the color schemes in os x very unfriendly.
in windows i am able to use high contrast black color scheme which works fairly well until you run into a third party vendor that doesn't allow its software gui to adapt to the current color scheme. for example: logitech setpoint software for mice and keyboard. it is virtually impossible for me to see... try it sometime using high contrast black in windows... another example is itunes for windows, same basic problems. stardock's impulse is another glaring example. i could name alot of photo suftware as well like picasa... the list goes on and on.
if microsoft would just enforce all gui's to adhere to the current color scheme, i would be just fine.
sadly people that suffer from one form or another visual impairment have to fight with these issues. i am not blind just legally blind...etc..
thanks again for the input, it is greatly appreciated.
@jallis
I'm sorry I couldn't help any further but you're very welcome. I hope for the sake of yourself and all others in the same boat that these companies start listening a bit more.
"retinis pigmentosa" is like a specific ill where the retina turns less transparent , so people is still able to see but the retina is to tick to allow all the lights to pass the retina.
So, this implant is some sort of light enhancement AND in theory it can serve as a future night-vision goggles.
@magallanes People could wear sunglasses at night.
"I wanted orange. It gave me limon-lime."
"...this seems like a step in the right direction, and at least one man now knows which direction that is."
Oh come on! That was terrible.
This is awesome, going blind seems like it would be one of the scariest things possible, its nice to see that someday we will be able to save people's sight.
the future is here technology is moving soo fast
yes going blind is scary.....but i got to tell you that what i am going thru pales in compared to what some people go thru. people who are already blind, being deaf, incurable cancer, parkinson, our soldiers critically injured in iraq or afghanistan.... and there are so many other deseases that i can't think of at the moment.. so yes i am scared..but i am lucky that i can at the moment still see..yeah i am at roughly 20/400 with no night vision or depth perception...and so i do my fair share or running into things or falling down here and there... but i just get back up and keep going no matter what. there is always someone out there far, far worse off than i am...
thanks for all the kind words everyone...
@jallis
I feel your pain man. I lost my vision in the span of 3 months due to over exposure to radiation when they were trying to kill the tumor in my eye. This news is exactly what I needed to hear. Just that glimmer of hope that one day I'll (we'll) be able to see again and feel "normal". Never took anything more for granted than sight out of both eyes. Hang in there!
I work for one of the world's three cochlear implant (bionic ear) companies and the quality of hearing one can get with an implant is purely amazing. One of our sister companies also makes a retinal prosthesis and it's just a matter of time before it's as useful and common as cochlear implants are now.