Retinal implants first step to eye replacement (4/6/2006)
Researchers are hoping to implant replacement rentina's into approximately 25 million patients suffering from retinal disease.
Several of the early versions of the implants are nearly ready to be brought to market. One such implant is
a wireless retinal prosthesis designed by the Boston Retinal Implant Project with is affiliated with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
The electronic retinal implants developed by the Boston Retinal Implant Project work by connecting to the
existing retinal nerve cells which pass the electronic pulses of information from the eye to the brain. The camera
is mounted on a pair of glasses and transmits images wirelessly to a chip implanted in place of the retina.
A private company, Optobionics is a few years away from bringing a silicon chip retinal replacement to market
(they are currently awaiting FDA approval). The Optobionics implant is layered with microscopic solar cells that
gather energy from the light it collects, removing the need for a power supply. This implant works by stimulating
the existing photoreceptors, keeping them alive and active.
Big Hurdles for Artificial Retinal Implants
Similar to organ rejection from donor orgrans, electonic devices aren't always accepted by the body,
and tend to need constant maintenance and possibly multiple surgeries.
Additionally Because the retinal implant is basically a video camera,
it will need a protocol handler that will interpret the information coming from the camera to the retinal
nerve cells.Even the best designed systems will provide feedback that can only be lessened and not removed from an
electronic retinal implant. The feedback may be experienced by the patient as headaches and may cause long term
damage to the retinal nerve cells and the brain.
Giving the cloned eye replacement scientists reason to move quickly
The good news for the regenerative medicine world is that the technology used to implant the new retina may be
used by surgeons performing cloned eye replacements, without the need for a protocol handler. Cloning
a new eye and removing the genetic defects from diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, would
only require being connected to the retinal nerve cells. This surgical procedue would be similar if not identical
to the processes developed by the artifical retinal implant industry.
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Comments:
| 1. |
Claudio Guendelman |
7/22/2007 11:54:48 AM MST |
i have a few weeks ago a cirugie at my rigth eye the retina wa well centered and in the rigth position but some cels are dead so i have a black triangle in the mid of the eye can t letme do a normal life , like reading , or my job programing computers were i can contact to center whos doing Retinal implants .
From Santiago Chile Claudi Guendelman
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| 2. |
Jim Jacoby |
9/12/2007 8:20:17 PM MST |
I look forward to the day I will be given back the full sight in my left eye. I had a branch retinal arterial occlusion two years a ago and my left eye vision from the horizontal centerline down is mostly gone with some upper vision. It is going to be wonderful someday when an artificial retina can be inserted into a persons eye and that person regains full vision. Please keep working to help all those people with impaired vision and especially people with completely lost vision. It's so important. The fright and panic is cruel and I pray for those with so much less vision, and I pray for technology to cure this vicious problem. Thank you. |
| 3. |
kalawati singhal |
9/19/2007 9:51:56 AM MST |
we have vision problem from last 40 years. my vision become week day by day. but at the current time i seen only black shadow of person or objects.
Indian doctor say about this diseas that retina has damage completely.
plz find any solution mail it and give obligation.
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| 4. |
Pieter |
5/29/2008 11:29:52 AM MST |
Hi
A friend's child is 4 years old.The retina of one eye did not fully developed and the other one is folded. The result is that he has no sight -he is totally blind.
What is the latest research and development wrt retina replacement??
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| 5. |
Bassema |
6/28/2008 8:56:22 AM MST |
My father, 81 year old, suffered from glaucoma in both eyes, although much worse in the left eye. His right eye vision, although not affected much by the glaucoma, has been affected by series of faulty surgeries that damaged his retina. Also, in his left eye, he has developed a retina membrane, which has been reducing the little vision left. I will be grateful if you provide me with any update on the information in this article, specific company or hospital(s) to contact.
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| 6. |
Karim |
7/31/2008 2:34:35 AM MST |
im 22 years old and i lost my left eye vision due to a secere infection and inflammation and high eye pressure as well the doctors are not sure what i really have and whats causing this their treating me for a similar herpes case, and i had my retina reattached but today they told me that my retina is sick and most of it is destroyed and that i wont recover much vision in that eye, plz if anything can be done mail me, will be really appreciated |
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