Microchips have so revolutionized the way that we live that by now we tend to take them for granted. But within
a few years, those tiny electronic wonders may perform a truly remarkable feat — helping the blind to see. I’m
Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by DuPont. Scientists around the world are working
on ways to restore vision by implanting microchips in either the eyes or the brains of blind people. One version
of this technology would use a “retinal” chip, a microchip implanted in the retina, to replace light-receiving cells
that have died out. This type of implant would be for people who could once see, but have lost their vision due
to disease or aging. Dr. Santa Tumminia is with the Foundation Fighting Blindness. She says that this is basically
a two-part device.
“It’s an external source which is composed of a pair of eyeglasses basically, which has a camera mounted on
them, and an internal source which is the retinal chip. And basically what the camera will pick up are signals, and
the chip inside the eye, which is implanted on the retina, would receive these signals and pass them on to the
cells that would convert them into electrical impulses.”
Then, just as in the normal vision process, those electrical signals would go to the brain, which forms the final
visual image.
“Basically you would step outside and your glasses would take the image that you see and it would pass it
down through the chip, the chip would pass it to the brain, and it would be converted into an image that you
would be able to recognize.”
Dr. Tumminia says the person using the device would probably be able to see well enough to walk around
outside without a cane or a guide. The retinal implant is scheduled to be ready for testing within five years.
Pulse of the Planet is presented by DuPont, bringing you the miracles of science, with additional support
provided by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.