USA: An electronic chip will restore sight to millions of blind people

The device implanted in the eye stimulates undamaged nerve cells around the retina; Its size is 4 mm and it is attached to silicone; Experiments conducted on 3 dogs were crowned with success; The researchers: an implant suitable for humans - within 3 years

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Scientists from the University of California in the USA are currently developing an electronic eye implant that will probably restore sight to millions of people around the world. The BBC reported that the chip stimulates nerve cells around the retina. This stimulation stimulates brain cells that translate the signals into vision.

Experiments conducted in dogs showed that the tiny chip is indeed able to restore vision. Scientists from the American government overseeing the project, believe that an implant suitable for humans will be ready in about three years.

The electronic device stimulates undamaged cells that surround the retina - the back area of ​​the eye that contains nerve cells. This stimulation makes it possible to restore the ability to see. The 4-millimeter chip is attached to a type of flexible silicon called PDMS that is able to bend and curve according to the shape of the retina, without harming the surrounding cells.

University of California researchers tested the chip containing 16 electrodes on three dogs. Now scientists from the American laboratory "Lawrence Livermore" are trying to develop a chip containing a thousand electrodes that will be suitable for use in humans. Such a chip must be resistant to surgery, and adapt to the physiological conditions in the eye.

The electronic chip is implanted in the eye and stimulates the inner cells of the retina. The stimulus stimulates the brain cells and these translate the signals into vision. "The chip is supposed to help in cases where the outer retina is damaged and the inner retina remains intact, such as in cases of age-related blindness or other degenerative diseases," explained Professor Anat Levenstein, director of the ophthalmology department at the Tel Aviv Medical Center. In experiments conducted on dogs suffering from retinal degeneration, the researchers showed that the chip significantly improved their vision. Recently, the chip was also tested on a group of volunteers who could not see at all. These reported that they were able to recognize shapes during the analysis. However, the chip has not yet been left in humans for a long period of time.

"This is a revolution," said Professor Levenstein, "however, the chip has to go through several experimental stages before people can use it in everyday life." Scientists from the US government, who are supervising the experiment, believe that within three years the implant will be ready to be suitable for humans. At the current stage of its development, the chip allows to distinguish between darkness and light. Now, the researchers are working on the next generation of the chip, which will allow the blind to see figures and shapes.
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