Bionic eye to re-examine the first blind test of its kind in Britain

Regained the blind eye to them planted in the first electronic medical test of the device in Britain, "the percentage of viable" after weeks of looking on the implant. And enable the blind to see Chris James parameters of objects placed in front of him for the first time in 20 years.

The device consists of two patients who planted the electronic chip similar to a camera mobile phone contains sensitive to light 1,500 to compensate for the damaged cells in the eye of the patient. The process began planting a source of electric power under the skin behind the ear. Then transplant surgeons slide with an area of ​​3 mm X 3 mm through a small opening in the retina in the back of the eye sensitive.
And wait ten other patients subjected to the process as part of the test conducted by a team of doctors headed by Tim Jackson retina specialist surgeon in King's College Hospital and Robert McLaren retina specialist at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

And can be re-planted by the electronic eye doctors in the two patients a primary degree from sight in patients whose cases affecting the rods and cones of the eye, ie, cells that are sensitive to light and transforming it into electrical signals sent through the optic nerve to the brain. These cells are subjected to damage due to disease such as retinitis pigmentosa and choroideremia and macular degeneration, which affects the elderly usually, with the survival of other parts of the eye intact.
And planted a chip so that the light that enters the eye image on the surface. And turn this image into electrical signals stimulate the retinal cells that transmit sound signals to the brain where the re-building the image. The tests are held on the slide produced by the German company six years ago. Is expected to ask the company approval to license the device if the new tests proved successful.
He was the first patient has planted electronic eye Mika Terho of Finland, who was blinded as a teenager because of retinitis pigmentosa. In 2010, surprised the doctors to get to know Terho plates, cups and eating utensils such as spoon and fork and read the capital letters. Although the patient's electronic eye does not see only black and white, the Terho was able to distinguish between the colors of the different degree of luster.
Exacerbated disease retinitis pigmentosa, which is one of the congenital diseases over time and affects one out of every 3000 to 4000 people in Europe.
A specialist British Ophthalmology Nick Aestbra, who heads a charity to help people with disabilities to consider, that test electronic eye gives hope for two million blind and half blind in Britain is the first step in a long journey to help people who have lost their sight to look again and to live an independent life.