Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
14
↓
After 20 years of darkness, bionic eye helps blind man see (cbsnews.com)
submitted by Professional-Dragon
blind_devotion08 10 points 5y ago
I'm always torn when I see articles/videos like this. On the one hand, great, something to help, but at the same time, the actually useful information is pretty meager.
How heavy is the device? If the device and its controller are too heavy, that might not make it usable for certain people.
What is it like to use it? Do you have to keep it charged? Are there settings? What's calibrating the whole thing like?
What are the options for the glasses? Colors, shapes, etc?
Is the implant just in trials or is it more openly available?
What's the battery life on the external device like? What chargers/cords does it use?
*How expensive is this thing?*
*Is installing one covered by medical benefits programs for the disabled?*
Does this allow him to read, even large print?
Further, articles like these tend to strike me as someone going "Look! You can get your eyes fixed, now you can stop being disabled!" as if I am somehow the problem and not the fact that society is built around the assumption that someone will be able to see.
How heavy is the device? If the device and its controller are too heavy, that might not make it usable for certain people.
What is it like to use it? Do you have to keep it charged? Are there settings? What's calibrating the whole thing like?
What are the options for the glasses? Colors, shapes, etc?
Is the implant just in trials or is it more openly available?
What's the battery life on the external device like? What chargers/cords does it use?
*How expensive is this thing?*
*Is installing one covered by medical benefits programs for the disabled?*
Does this allow him to read, even large print?
Further, articles like these tend to strike me as someone going "Look! You can get your eyes fixed, now you can stop being disabled!" as if I am somehow the problem and not the fact that society is built around the assumption that someone will be able to see.
KillerLag 2 points 5y ago
If you want more information, the device is called Argus II by Second Sight.
http://www.secondsight.com/g-the-argus-ii-prosthesis-system-pf-en.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_retinal_prosthesis
The system implants 60 electrodes into the eye, which connect to the retina. The camera is mounted onto a pair of glasses, which sends the picture to a processing unit (larger than a cell phone, but not too much), which send the signal back to the glasses. The glasses has a transmitter mounted to the side, which sends the signal to the implant in the eye.
For someone who is blind their entire life, it is hard to describe how low resolution those 60 electrodes are. When I described it to a family member for someone who was getting it, I described it like an old TV from the 30s... but much worse.
No options for the glasses as far as I know.
It is now more openly available, if you have the money. Last I heard, it cost $150,000 USD, including the surgery. Not sure if the price has gone down. As far as I know, no medical benefit program covers it, it is still considered too experimental. I remind my clients who are thinking about it, that they are literally guinea pigs for this kind of thing.
For reading.... Of the two clients I've worked with who have had it, none of them were able to read. In theory, it is a possibility, but maybe two or three letters at a time. They were more able to see strong contrast (white sidewalk against darker grass background) and follow the line.
The Argus II is the first step in bionic replacements for eyes... but in terms of functionality, it is like a hook hand from the 1400's. It can do SOME things, but there is a lot it can't do.
EDIT: According to the wikipedia article, Medicare patients are getting reimbursements.
http://www.secondsight.com/g-the-argus-ii-prosthesis-system-pf-en.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_retinal_prosthesis
The system implants 60 electrodes into the eye, which connect to the retina. The camera is mounted onto a pair of glasses, which sends the picture to a processing unit (larger than a cell phone, but not too much), which send the signal back to the glasses. The glasses has a transmitter mounted to the side, which sends the signal to the implant in the eye.
For someone who is blind their entire life, it is hard to describe how low resolution those 60 electrodes are. When I described it to a family member for someone who was getting it, I described it like an old TV from the 30s... but much worse.
No options for the glasses as far as I know.
It is now more openly available, if you have the money. Last I heard, it cost $150,000 USD, including the surgery. Not sure if the price has gone down. As far as I know, no medical benefit program covers it, it is still considered too experimental. I remind my clients who are thinking about it, that they are literally guinea pigs for this kind of thing.
For reading.... Of the two clients I've worked with who have had it, none of them were able to read. In theory, it is a possibility, but maybe two or three letters at a time. They were more able to see strong contrast (white sidewalk against darker grass background) and follow the line.
The Argus II is the first step in bionic replacements for eyes... but in terms of functionality, it is like a hook hand from the 1400's. It can do SOME things, but there is a lot it can't do.
EDIT: According to the wikipedia article, Medicare patients are getting reimbursements.
AllHarlowsEve 2 points 5y ago
Honestly, when I see these articles, I wonder if the poster realizes that most of the people on this sub, or at least a sizeable number, are blind. As wonderful as it is to see that science is moving forward, it doesn't help to get articles that have no information.
Professional-Dragon [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Actually some futuristic bionic techniques promise even better vision than 20/20. So even people with "normal" vision can possibly gain something from those in the future. ☺
https://moneyinc.com/the-bionic-lens-could-lead-to-better-than-20-20-vision/
These articles definitely don't include all the minor technical details. But at least they offer some infos; Google can help with the rest (if someone is interested about them). And the technology gets better continually anyway, luckily.
*edit: clarification
https://moneyinc.com/the-bionic-lens-could-lead-to-better-than-20-20-vision/
These articles definitely don't include all the minor technical details. But at least they offer some infos; Google can help with the rest (if someone is interested about them). And the technology gets better continually anyway, luckily.
*edit: clarification
princesspooball 1 points 4y ago
The author of that article has no idea what glaucoma is
Laser_Lens_4 2 points 4y ago
It's important to keep in mind that this Tech really isn't that far along. Unless you got light perception or worse this isn't going to help you. Electronics that are this complex still aren't efficient enough to implant into the body and we still really don't understand how to properly send signals to the brain.
Beyond those there still a whole lot of practical limitations, one of the biggest ones being power. Current Battery Technology simply isn't good enough and it certainly isn't good enough for a device which needs to work inside of a rather harsh environment 24/7. The cost of devices like this is also horribly expensive. Unless you're very wealthy or can somehow get this covered through insurance it's probably not going to happen.
It's good to see progress but it's simply not enough right now.
Beyond those there still a whole lot of practical limitations, one of the biggest ones being power. Current Battery Technology simply isn't good enough and it certainly isn't good enough for a device which needs to work inside of a rather harsh environment 24/7. The cost of devices like this is also horribly expensive. Unless you're very wealthy or can somehow get this covered through insurance it's probably not going to happen.
It's good to see progress but it's simply not enough right now.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.