It's Not Magic, It's Not Magic, This Blind Woman Can See Again Thanks To A Brain Implant

Gomez was blind for 16 years, his vision reactivated with a brain implant and special glasses (Securebook)

JAKARTA – For years researchers have been trying to find ways to activate vision for people who are blind and other types of visual impairment. A new study was published by scientists from the John A. Moran Eye Center of the University of Utah and Miguel Hernandez University.

Launching Slashgear, the study describes an experiment that succeeded in creating a type of artificial vision for a woman by relying on brain implants. The implant is known as a Moran|Cortivis Prosthesis and allows a 60-year-old woman, Verna Gomez, to regain her sight even though she can only see simple objects.

During the trial phase, the researchers worked with Gomez for six months, and they say the prosthesis they produced could improve vision for blind people around the world. Implanting the Utah Electrode Array (UAE) is still difficult because it requires neurosurgery to implant the microelectrode array into his visual cortex.

For information, the array can record and stimulate the electrical activity of neurons in the brain. In addition to the brain implant, another part of the system is special glasses equipped with a mini video camera that works with special software. The software encodes the visual data the camera collects and sends it to the UAE which is implanted in the brain.

UAE can stimulate neurons to produce phosphene, which Gomez can see as dots of white light, which creates an image. Gomez had been blind for 16 years at the time of the trial, and investigators say there were no complications from her surgery. The researchers also said the implants did not damage the neurons near the electrodes, nor did they impact the underlying cortex.

Gomez can identify simple lines, shapes, and letters with an active implant and receive data from glasses. Gomez and the researchers used video games to help her practice using the prosthesis. Research results have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the system and mark a significant step towards restoring lost vision.

With this finding, it is hoped that it can contribute to public health in the world. This is an important breakthrough in the history of ophthalmology combined with technology to reactivate the vision of blind people as experienced by Gomez.