Better Bionic Eyes Developed, Softer And Less Mechanical

Although it may seem hard to believe, bionic eyes have actually been a real part of the medical industry for some time. However, as with every new technology, it came with a few problems. Specifically, the machine part of the technology made patients more prone to eye damage. Thanks to a new discovery, there is now a softer, gentler option to getting bionic eyes.

When people think of bionic eyes, chances are, they are imagining people with glowing pupils that look more machine than organic. However, while this isn’t exactly wrong, current examples are basically tiny mechanical films inserted into the retina to help people see. Unfortunately, they also hold the potential to cause some major damages due to their hard structure, Futurism reports.

The obvious solution was to find a substitute that would allow doctors to do the same thing with mechanical setups but with a soft, synthetic option. This is exactly what the University of Oxford researchers were able to achieve.

According to the press release posted on the university’s website, this discovery is a great way to reduce irritation, inflammation, or scarring of sensitive retinal tissue when implanting synthetic materials for improved eyesight. The project was led by Vanessa Restrepo-Schild who explained that the new material basically acts like a camera.

“The synthetic material can generate electrical signals, which might stimulate the neurons at the back of our eye just like the original retina,” Restrepo-Schild said.

The new synthetic retina is basically made by combining hydrogel droplets and proteins that are specifically sensitive to light, Science Alert reports. This creates a soft film that can be placed in the patient’s eyes without making it an uncomfortable foreign object in one of the body’s most sensitive areas. As a result, it can exist in harmony with the organic environment, helping subjects see with less discomfort.