Artificial retina technology may improve sight for visually impaired

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved today the use of “artificial retina” technology that could give visually impaired people the ability to see.

The Argus ® II Retinal Prosthesis System – developed by a team of scientists that includes Dr. Wentai Liu, a professor at the UCLA Department of Bioengineering – consists of a camera system mounted on a pair of glasses that transmits images to the brain, according to a press release from the FDA.

The camera on the glasses wirelessly communicates with a sheet of electrodes implanted on the patients damaged retina, which then sends electronic signals to the brain and forms a visual image. The bionic eyes help patients locate objects and recognize shapes like large letters. The prosthetic technology was developed in part with support from the National Science Foundation, according to the press release.

Compiled by Kanav Saraf, Bruin contributor.