Blind patients given 'bionic eyes'

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Surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital have carried out successful operations to implant an artificial retinal device into the eyes of two blind patients as part of a clinical study.

The trial aims to restore a basic level of useful vision, in the form of spots of light and shapes of light and dark, to people suffering severe blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of inherited eye diseases that affects the retina.

The technology consists of a tiny camera and transmitter mounted in a pair of glasses.

The camera 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 brain perceives patterns of light and dark spots corresponding to the electrodes which are stimulated.

The operations were carried out by consultant retinal surgeon Lyndon da Cruz and his team at Moorfields in London, under the supervision of US colleagues who developed the device with the company Second Sight in the US.

Mr da Cruz said: "Moorfields is proud to have been one of only three sites in Europe chosen to be part of evolving this exciting new technology."