Blindness Treatment: A new medical miracle has given blind patients the ability to see and read again. Doctors in London have implanted an electronic eye implant called the Prima System, allowing 85% of patients to recognize words, numbers, and faces.
Eye Implant for the Blind: A new medical miracle has given blind patients the ability to see and read again. An international medical trial in London, UK, has given the world a new ray of hope. An electronic eye implant called the Prima System is now giving those who lost their eyesight the power to see and read again.
How does this microchip implant work?This microchip, measuring just 2mm x 2mm (about as small as a SIM card), is surgically implanted beneath the patient's retina. This chip works in conjunction with augmented reality (AR) glasses. These glasses contain a video camera that records the scene in front of them and transmits it as an infrared beam to the chip. From there, the signals are transmitted to the brain, allowing the patient to see words, numbers, and faces through artificial vision.
Excellence in medical researchThis trial was conducted jointly by experts from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. It was conducted on 38 patients in five European countries. Approximately 85% of participants are now able to read numbers, alphabets, and words. Patients who previously couldn't even see a vision chart are now able to read an average of five lines. The results of this study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, are described as a new beginning in artificial vision.
For which disease was this experiment done?The patients in this trial suffered from a condition called dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry AMD). This condition causes the cells in the retina to gradually die, leading to loss of central vision and eventual blindness. Approximately 5 million people worldwide suffer from this condition, and until now, there was no cure.
This is the turning point of medical history – DoctorAccording to Dr. Mahi Muqit of Moorfields Eye Hospital, "This is the first time a device is giving people the ability to read and recognize even after blindness. This isn't just an operation, it's a way to restore the light of life." He explained that this surgery can be performed by any trained surgeon in less than two hours, making this technology accessible to ordinary patients in the future.
How is the surgery done?This process involves a surgery called vitrectomy, which removes the vitreous gel inside the eye. A small trapdoor is then created beneath the retina, where the microchip is placed. Approximately one month later, when the eye has fully healed, the device is activated. The AI-generated system converts visual data into electrical signals and sends them to the brain, where vision is perceived. This device is considered one of the biggest medical breakthroughs to date. In the coming years, this technology could prove to be a game-changer for patients suffering from dry AMD and blindness worldwide.
Image Credit: Getty
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