Bionic eye promises vision for the blind

Monash University is preparing to launch technology that should allow blind users to make out objects and other people

World-leading technology that could help restore vision to a large number of Australia‘s 45,000 blind people is set to emerge from a Melbourne university.

The Monash Vision system, developed by a team of 60 at Monash University, allows blind users to make out objects and other people with the aid of a brain implant that connects wirelessly to a camera which can be housed in a pair of glasses or even on the end of the user’s finger.

The camera captures and sends images via a digital processor to a chip implanted under the skull at the back of the head. This chip stimulates the visual cortex via electrodes, allowing the brain to interpret the images.

The technology will allow blind people to see objects as a series of dots or solid colours. Facial recognition software lets the user identify other people, while other bespoke software, such as technology allowing users to recognise and negotiate stairs, is compatible with the system.

Monash researchers expect to release a prototype, which will be tested before being trialled on a blind person, in the first half of next year. It’s hoped that the trial, if successful, will lead to the widespread use of the technology within a decade.

Project director Prof Arthur Lowery told Guardian Australia the technology was a “major breakthrough” from previous sight-giving innovations.

“It’s the most advanced system created as it allows people to recognise different objects and colours,” he said. “It means people can go into a meeting and know who is there and how many of them there are. People can venture outside because they can see trees.”

Lowery said the sight provided would be similar to an advanced type of radar and was suited to completely blind people.

“If you have some residual vision it’s probably of less use to you,” he said. “You wouldn’t lose the vision you had but this is only presenting a few hundred pixels and most people with residual vision have more than that. We are aiming at people who are completely blind and have brains which are hardwired to understand what objects are, rather people who have never seen anything at all.”

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