Telescopic eye implant approved by the FDA

We love eye implants, and we've seen our share of them, and this one is pretty sweet (although it isn't the creepiest by a long shot -- that prize would go to the one that uses a human tooth to hold its lens). In the works for well over a year, and approved by the FDA a couple days ago, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies' implantable miniature telescope is intended for patients over 75 years of age who are suffering from end-stage macular degeneration. As with any tricky new surgery, this one is not without risks, including the need for a corneal transplant due to the device's size. According to CBC News, in clinical testing seventy-five percent of over 200 patients "had their vision improve from severe or profound impairment to moderate impairment," and there are two more studies on the way: one will follow up with existing patients, while the other will outfit 770 new patients with the device. The cost? $15,000.

[TheLeprachaun Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:32PM]

Can't wait until they're available for everyone and have 10x zoom feature.

[Quetzalcoatl Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:38PM]

@TheLeprachaun
ill wait for eagle eyes

[VanNorden Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:59PM]

@TheLeprachaun

Don't forget nightvision! If they can do that, sign me up.

[who said what Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:01PM]

@VanNorden

And x-ray vision?

[TheLeprachaun Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:02PM]

@who said what

And heat vision! pew pew pew

[Kizorblade Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:10PM]

@TheLeprachaun

10x zoom? Keep an... eye out for that.

[TheLeprachaun Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:15PM]

@Kizorblade

....said Horatio as he took his sunglasses off slowly.

[hero785 Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:15PM]

@Quetzalcoatl
I got eagle eyes and I'm the envy of my friends lol! Telescopic eyes with insane zoom, lets say15x to 20x would be awesome. I'd go under the knife in a heart beat if I have the dough. This is the future!

[TeeWill Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:07PM]

@TheLeprachaun
It'll probably end up being lame digital zoom anyway.

[uckApple Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:35PM]

@TeeWill

Just wait for Apple to reinvent this and come out with the revolutionary iEye?

[TryfHalden Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:45PM]

@uckApple
Ah, but then pirates will invade Apple's buildings and they don't want that. They dislike us pirates.

[NikAmi Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:01PM]

@TheLeprachaun I always said...(remove sunglasses)...he had an eye for the future.


YEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

[Vytman Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:02PM]

@TheLeprachaun

"That’s because the Retina display’s pixel density is so high, your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels." - Apple

Orly?

[manofchao5 Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:32PM]

@TheLeprachaun
who wants one that has hook-ups for a dslr lens

[John Doe Posted Jul 8th 2010 5:17PM]

@TheLeprachaun Yah but read the fine print. It will be digital zoom not optical.

[simbr Posted Jul 8th 2010 6:42PM]

@uckApple
I think Madagascar already has the patent on that one
http://images.wildmadagascar.org/pictures/David_Haring/ayeaye_01.jpg

[SLINC Posted Jul 8th 2010 8:21PM]

@TheLeprachaun

Only one word to say: "DROID"

[Lowest Ranks Posted Jul 8th 2010 11:51PM]

@uckApple iEye? I think he was banned here. Maybe he's Brooklyn'sFinest?

[SneezyPorcupine Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:54AM]

@TheLeprachaun

FINALLY! A solution to finding out who has the smallest e-penis on Engadget! =P

[blustrkr Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:07AM]

@TheLeprachaun

ENHANCE !!

[DoctarPeppar Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:35PM]

Prelude to the movie "Repo Men" ;P

[Ryujin Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:30PM]

@DoctarPeppar
Closer to me being able to zoom in and zoom out

[KGBSmurf Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:36PM]

Whatever.. still creepy

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:53PM]

Repent. Repent now.

[Seven2k Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:37PM]

I thought it was the new Verizon Droid campaign at first...yeah creepy.

[joebob Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:38PM]

One step closer to the "eyePhone"

[alexr58 Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:58PM]

@joebob haha that was exactly what i though when i saw it

[uckApple Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:45PM]

@joebob

Introducing eyeOS:

-Control, hear, see everything just by using your brain. Calling someone, or browsing the web has never been so easy, until now.
-Built in audio system so that anything that happens inside the OS is to be heard inside your head, not effecting anything around you.

eyeOS, coming soon to an eyeBall near you.

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:19PM]

@joebob

that futurama episode was funny as hell

[Nintendo Tim Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:39PM]

My dreams of having Ghost in the Shell-like zooming abilities for my eyes are getting closer and closer.

[iBrebu Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:39PM]

Interesting...but now I'm crawling in my skin.

[mrqs Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:42PM]

ummm... did anyone ask them what happened to the 25% ?

[bigcow05 Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:59PM]

@mrqs

Yeah, it doesn't seem like this operation is reversible...

[Brokinarrow Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:14PM]

@mrqs - Skynet assumed control...

[Bensawsome Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:43PM]

Now we just need them to be able to connect to our computers/phones as cameras and have zoom :3

[Jamesky Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:45PM]

Amazing, I love stories like this- they make me less afraid.

[engaged Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:48PM]

...so 2 million iphone4 user need to buy this $15000 eye-patches to see all pixels?

[TheHoldSteady Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:49PM]

Sorry, but how can anyone studiously avoid rubbing their eyes - for the rest of their life?

[wickywills Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:56PM]

@TheHoldSteady

easy...cut of your arms!

[Flutterbudget Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:04PM]

@wickywills Not very studious.

[drkztan Posted Jul 8th 2010 4:14PM]

@wickywills better yet! cut your head off, and have an artificially mantained head!

[jebo4jc Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:51PM]

JC Denton is very interested in this

[jakeh0 Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:53PM]

droooidddd...

[technomom Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:53PM]

Droid X!

[Spensar Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:54PM]

Im sorry but that thing looks fucking awesome.... Ive always wanted some awesome looking eye thinggy...

[WebOn Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:56PM]

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. We can make him better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster."

[MichaelJJackson Posted Jul 8th 2010 1:59PM]

Does that price include surgery?

[Whitaker19 Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:02PM]

its just a matter of time until the new eyephone

[peepeeland Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:05PM]

Badass.

[NoOneSpecific Posted Jul 8th 2010 2:08PM]

Anybody else thinking The Six Million Dollar Man here?
Duncan from Dune?

Anyone?