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Bionic eye 'blindness cure hope' | Bionic eye 'blindness cure hope' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A 'bionic eye' may hold the key to returning sight to people left blind by a hereditary disease, experts believe. | A 'bionic eye' may hold the key to returning sight to people left blind by a hereditary disease, experts believe. |
A team at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital have carried out the treatment on the UK's first patients as part of a clinical study into the therapy. | A team at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital have carried out the treatment on the UK's first patients as part of a clinical study into the therapy. |
The artificial eye, connected to a camera on a pair of glasses, has been developed by US firm Second Sight. | The artificial eye, connected to a camera on a pair of glasses, has been developed by US firm Second Sight. |
It said the technique may be able to restore a basic level of vision, but experts warned it was still early days. | It said the technique may be able to restore a basic level of vision, but experts warned it was still early days. |
The trial aims to help people who have been made blind through retinitis pigmentosa, a group of inherited eye diseases that affects the retina. | The trial aims to help people who have been made blind through retinitis pigmentosa, a group of inherited eye diseases that affects the retina. |
This treatment is very exciting, but it is still early days David Head, of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society | This treatment is very exciting, but it is still early days David Head, of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society |
The disease progresses over a number of years, normally after people have been diagnosed when they are children. | The disease progresses over a number of years, normally after people have been diagnosed when they are children. |
It is estimated between 20,000 to 25,000 are affected in the UK. | It is estimated between 20,000 to 25,000 are affected in the UK. |
It is not known whether the treatment has helped the two patients - both men in their fifties - to see and any success is only likely to be in the form of light and dark outlines, but doctors are optimistic. | |
Lyndon da Cruz, the eye surgeon who carried out the operations last week, said the treatment was "exciting". | Lyndon da Cruz, the eye surgeon who carried out the operations last week, said the treatment was "exciting". |
"The devices were implanted successfully in both patients and they are recovering well from the operations." | "The devices were implanted successfully in both patients and they are recovering well from the operations." |
Other patients across Europe and the US have also been involved in the trial. | Other patients across Europe and the US have also been involved in the trial. |
Electronic | Electronic |
The bionic eye, known as Argus II, works via the camera which transmits a wireless signal to an ultra-thin electronic receiver and electrode panel that are implanted in the eye and attached to the retina. | The bionic eye, known as Argus II, works via the camera which transmits a wireless signal to an ultra-thin electronic receiver and electrode panel that are implanted in the eye and attached to the retina. |
The electrodes stimulate the remaining retinal nerves allowing a signal to be passed along the optic nerve to the brain. | The electrodes stimulate the remaining retinal nerves allowing a signal to be passed along the optic nerve to the brain. |
David Head, chief executive of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society, said: "This treatment is very exciting, but it is still early days. | David Head, chief executive of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society, said: "This treatment is very exciting, but it is still early days. |
"There is currently no treatment for patients so this device and research into stem cells therapies offers the best hope." | "There is currently no treatment for patients so this device and research into stem cells therapies offers the best hope." |
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