http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000630/tc/health_vision_dc_1.html Friday June 30 6:32 PM ET

Chip That Would Restore Sight Implanted in People

By Debra Sherman

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois scientists on Friday said they have successfully implanted silicon microchips beneath human retinas for the first time, a procedure that holds promise for millions of people with failing eyesight.

Earlier this week, three patients who lost almost all of their vision from retinitis pigmentosa -- a hereditary condition in which the retina gradually degenerates -- became the first people to have an Artificial Silicon Retina implanted.

Doctors said they will not know for weeks whether the chip has restored vision because the incisions made to implant the device must first heal.

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The patients are wearing shields over their eyes to protect from light and debris.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000630/tc/health_vision_dc_1.html

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), July 01, 2000

Answers

Too bad they can't implant them casino chips when we go down to Las Vegas. Viva the casinos and let the big dice roll, daddio!

-- gaming is for losers (not@any.here), July 01, 2000.

Thanks for posting this Charles.

My son, Kit has Downs Syndrome, and has degenerating retinas. In the last year or so, I've noticed that his eyesight is failing at a more rapid rate than we'd expected. He is withdrawing slowly into a world which is a little darker each day.

This news is the first I've heard of a possible synthetic retina. It is hope for lots of people.

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-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), July 02, 2000.

Implanted chips, artifical limbs, other miscellaneous implants for fun (!) and profit, mapped DNA, Ritalin, Viagra, Prozac, Hair Club for Men, Human 2.1(b) wetware upgrade... I'm starting to feel so retro, still running with only original equipment, y'know?

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), July 02, 2000.

CPR

Good post. Interesting studies are being conducted by several groups on "bionic eyes."

Terry Hambrecht, M.D., of the National Institutes of Health and Prof. Richard Normann of the University of Utah both head research projects to develop a visual cortical prosthesis. Dr. Alan Chow in Chicago and Dr. E. Zrenner in Tubingen, Germany are working on an ocular implant that connects to the back side of the retina.

Two other groups are working on a visual prosthesis that will interface with the front side of the retina. One is lead by Eugene DeJuan, M.D. and Mark Humayun, M.D. at Johns Hopkins Medical School, and the other by Prof. Rolf Eckmiller at the University of Bonn in Germany.

Implanting microchips in the human body is an interesting topic. Lots of controversy. Can and should they be used to track criminals and illegal aliens? How about keeping tabs on pets? Or perhaps immplanted chips to alert medical professionals to ones medical conditions? Wonderful technology with a bite.

-- Casey DeFranco (caseydefranco@mindspring.com), July 02, 2000.

How about keeping tabs on pets? That is already being done here. They insert a chip in your pet with a unique "address" which allows lost or stolen pets to be traced.

I am overly sensitive about my eyes, being extremely myoptic. I had considered having one of those procreedures done to correct my vsion, but am waiting until the odds of failures go down to next to nothing.

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), July 02, 2000.