Woman with bionic eye explains what it’s like to see again

(Image credit: iStock)

Suffering from the blindness-inducing disorder retinitis pigmentosa, Rhian Lewis, 49, hadn't been able to read a clock with her right eye in 16 years or with her left eye in six. That all changed after the surgical implantation of a "bionic eye" in June:

The implant — a 3mm sq array of around 1,500 light sensors which sends pulsed electrical signals to nerve cells — is connected to a tiny computer that sits underneath the skin behind the ear. This is powered by a magnetic coil on the skin. From the outside, it looks like a hearing aid.When the device is first switched on, patients see flashes of light, but over a few weeks the brain learns to convert those flashes into meaningful shapes and objects. The images can be black and white and grainy but still have the power to transform lives. [The Guardian]

Bionic eyes have been tested as treatment for retinitis pigmentosa since 2012, though Lewis is the first patient outside of Germany to be implanted with the newer model of the device. Watch Lewis talk about the experience of recovered sight at The Guardian.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.