Bionic eye implant promises a lifetime of perfect vision

[TwistedDictator]

An optometrist in British Columbia claims to have invented an easily implantable device that provides its wearer with vision "three times better than 20/20" for life. Dubbed the Ocumetics Bionic Lens by its inventor Dr. Garth Webb, this device appears to be very similar in structure to the conventional artificial lenses employed in cataract surgery. The eight-minute installation procedure is reportedly painless. It involves injecting the folded lense into your eye where it unfurls to replace your natural lense and correct your vision. There's also an added benefit in that with these artificial lenses in place, you'll never develop cataracts.

The technology is still quite untested, mind you. And despite Webb's assurances to Business Insider that the technology is both safe and effective, there isn't a whole lot of available information as to how the devices actually work. Webb presented his research on the lenses at the Latin American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons' annual conference in April. His company, Ocumetics Technology Corp, plans to first test the lenses on animals before moving on to blind humans trials. If all goes according to plan, the lenses could receive regulatory approval in Canada by 2017.

Source

Damn this is awesome but kind of scary. Hopefully they can help many blind people but I wonder how much it would cost.

this device appears to be very similar in structure to the conventional artificial lenses employed in cataract surgery. The eight-minute installation procedure is reportedly painless. It involves injecting the folded lense into your eye where it unfurls to replace your natural lense and correct your vision. There's also an added benefit in that with these artificial lenses in place, you'll never develop cataracts.

[Trik'Stari]

I just saw this on The Tek.

 

I must have it. My vision is terrible, I hate glasses, and can't stand the idea of contacts.

[flibberdipper]

Gimme.

[Syntaxvgm]

Batou is not the only one with fake eye(s)

 

Anyway stuff this and reconnecting nerves will bring in a whole new area of medicine imho.

[Sauron]

 

This could be great for people with serious eye problems I don't think I'd have my own transplanted for the sake of more accurate vision though.

[MrDynamicMan]

Ah, I see now.

Sorry.

[CatCloud]

Where do I sign up?

[Syntaxvgm]

Ah, I see now.

Sorry.

god damnit 

[SurvivorNVL]

I despise my glasses, I could never get in to contacts, and this I can get behind.  I dislike lasik because it burns away healthy tissue in favor of correcting vision.  This is -very- appreciated of an advancement and I hope it gains further momentum and is everywhere.  I would love to see clearly again without the overhead of glasses.  

[wyattzx]

The best part of this story is that it could potentially be approved by 2017. Not 2020. Because 2017 is better than 2020. :-)

[killers993]

The best part of this story is that it could potentially be approved by 2017. Not 2020. Because 2017 is better than 2020. :-)

 

We'll see.  sorry but I had to.

[colonel_mortis]

It's pretty cool, but if it hasn't even been tested in animals yet then there's absolutely no guarantee that it will work, and I very much doubt their claim of "three times better than 20/20" vision. Even if it does work, 2017 is incredibly optimistic (it takes more than two years to make sure that it doesn't have any longer term disadvantages, let alone the time spent in all the other tests that have to be run before it can even get to that stage). I wouldn't be surprised if this idea just quietly disappears before it comes to market, and even if it does make it to market I doubt that it will deliver half of what it's advertising.

[Texhnlyze]

Please make it happen. Please

[catbutts]

i need this

[asim1999]

Same, i have been visually impaired since birth due to hydrocephalus. Seems like a dream come true  

[ManWithBeard1990]

I despise my glasses, I could never get in to contacts, and this I can get behind.  I dislike lasik because it burns away healthy tissue in favor of correcting vision.  This is -very- appreciated of an advancement and I hope it gains further momentum and is everywhere.  I would love to see clearly again without the overhead of glasses.

So you dislike burning away some superficial tissue which gives your eyes' optics the correct focus again in favour of opening up the eye, grinding up the existing lens and implanting a foreign body where it used to be? Furthermore They haven't mentioned whether or not your eyes can still focus after the procedure, which with traditional artificial lenses they can't (you'll need reading glasses) and with these, probably not either. But sure, plastic will always be a clearer optical medium than living tissue and in optimal circumstances vision will be great. They just don't mention those issues.

[Diederik_Gr]

I do wonder how our brain would respond if we upgraded ourselves like this. Yes, I played Deus Ex.

[CatCloud]

It's pretty cool, but if it hasn't even been tested in animals yet then there's absolutely no guarantee that it will work, and I very much doubt their claim of "three times better than 20/20" vision. Even if it does work, 2017 is incredibly optimistic (it takes more than two years to make sure that it doesn't have any longer term disadvantages, let alone the time spent in all the other tests that have to be run before it can even get to that stage). I wouldn't be surprised if this idea just quietly disappears before it comes to market, and even if it does make it to market I doubt that it will deliver half of what it's advertising.

You could be 100% correct however i have one thing to say though.

 

Don´t be so negative!

[Hackzzila]

I just saw this on The Tek.

 

I must have it. My vision is terrible, I hate glasses, and can't stand the idea of contacts.

Same

[GoldSrc]

I do wonder how our brain would respond if we upgraded ourselves like this. Yes, I played Deus Ex.

Old people's brain would have a hard time, kids's brain?, not so much.

If you learn something when you're a kid, it would take longer for an adult to learn the same thing.

The plasticity of an adult brain is pretty crap compared to the plasticity of a kid's brain.

[Guest Strangerbob]

Need bionic eyes ASAP! ... to return vision to everyone whos blind.

 

And then im awaiting Infrared, Ultraviolet, Xray and Microweave variants... so i am able to look up at our galactic disk during the day and see old stars exploding; and at night to see out to the furthest red-shifted galaxy.

[Delusional Phil]

3 times 20/20 ? Does that mean we can see 90 FPS after that ? Then Ubisoft have to move up to 90 FPS for that " cinematic feel "

[Syntaxvgm]

 

3 times 20/20 ? Does that mean we can see 90 FPS after that ? Then Ubisoft have to move up to 90 FPS for that " cinematic feel "

 

...

I see it now 

"the human eye can only see 30 fps unless it's bionic"

[Delusional Phil]

...

I see it now 

"the human eye can only see 30 fps unless it's bionic"

Must advance ourselves to see 90 FPS without motion blur or lower-lighting ... We must set a new standard for Ubisoft ... 

[Fetzie]

Except most of the focusing is done by the cornea, not the lens.