Researchers led by Eberhart Zrenner of the University of Tuebingen, Germany, have developed an eye implant that is able to restore partial sight to people suffering from a form of blindness called retinitis pigmentosa:
Link via io9 | Image: Zrenner, et al.
One subject, 46-year-old Mikka Terho from Finland, was able to read large letters and a clock face, and differentiate between shades of gray a few days after the implant and his eyes eventually became adjusted to the light.
The chip, operated by a battery-powered cable implanted behind the ear, converts light into electrical impulses that act on the optic nerve. The device did not work on the other eight volunteers because it was implanted less deeply in the eye, according to the paper.
Link via io9 | Image: Zrenner, et al.
This is terrific news to people going blind or who are already blind. Hopefully the chip's resolution continues to improve and this technology advances quickly from the lab into the marketplace.
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