SECOND SIGHT’S BIONIC EYE

Retinal implant and computer goggles to restore vision to many

Second Sight is the maker of the first FDA-approved (albeit under the Humanitarian Device label) retinal implant, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System. The bionic eye helps return lost or dampened sight to patients suffering from the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa.

A two part device, the Argus II consists of a retinal prosthesis and a pair of glasses mounted with a small video camera and video processing unit. Images recorded by the frames are transmitted to the retinal implant, which then sends electrical pulses along the optic nerve to the brain. This incredible device was included in many of 2013’s lists of most important inventions and it’s not hard to see why.