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Telescope eye implant restores sight lost from macular degeneration
California-based VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies has an ocular implant that, once inserted, would help out anyone suffering from macular degeneration (which means the elderly, in most cases). With macular degeneration, you typically lose your vision in the center of your eyesight, so VisionCare's telescope implant, which uses two lenses inside a small glass tube, would restore that central blind spot. The downside of the telescope, however, is that you'd experience a loss in your peripheral vision with that eye.
That's why doctors recommend only implanting one eye. "Instead of using two parts of the same eye, they must switch between two eyes," Eli Peli, a scientist at The Schepens Eye Research Institute, told the Technology Review, "If they see someone coming but can't tell who it is, they need to switch to other eye."
It may sound like a hassle, but it's just a matter of training yourself — and the benefit of being able to see straight ahead again is worth it. The implant is still waiting for FDA approval. If it does get a green light, then doctors can begin surgically implanting the telescope, which is held in place by the tissue of the eye.
By JPFR at 8:46 AM ON 04/09/09
Let the cyberization begin!
By smeagollette at 10:00 AM ON 04/09/09
Will this be covered by most healthcare providers? Where can I order other body parts? I'm ready for the machination to begin!
By Galic1 at 10:17 AM ON 04/09/09
My mother would have loved having this option. It is great that others will one day have the benefit of seeing again.
By adamargon at 10:33 AM ON 04/09/09
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.
By doanchaknow at 11:07 AM ON 04/09/09
Wow! I always knew there were cylons (cyborgs) among us. And now, they are trying to make the rest of us over.
By timbo at 1:12 PM ON 04/09/09
We are Borg.
By e.fine at 2:46 PM ON 04/09/09
I was commenting to an associate recently about the next Batman movie and I said I thought the villain should be the vision enhanced, sharpshooting assasin - Deadshot. My associate thought him to be the most implausable villain, but I think with this development he seems more plausable.
By klingonanna at 6:24 PM ON 04/09/09
Once again, the "science" of Star Trek makes it to mainstream living. Before my mother passed away, I told her that some day there would be an implant to help her see again (she had macular degeneration in both eyes). Of course, she said I was "dreaming with my head in the clouds again"....just like she said when I told her that one day we would be able to "see" inside people using magnetism and that we would be living in space on a space station. I wish she could have been able to see again before she died, but now someone else will be helped. Long live the Borg! and the imagination of mankind.
By XtomJames at 12:33 PM ON 04/10/09
They can make this but they can't make cheap affective contacts for people who astigmatism that is as high as mine. What lazy pions.
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They can make this but they can't make cheap affective contacts for people who astigmatism that is as high as mine....More »