Bionic Vision

Many people who are clinically blind have damaged optic nerves. These prevent signals being transmitted from the retina to the ‘vision centre’ of the brain. Australia is at the forefront of research in bionic vision with two ‘stand-out’ projects in train.

Melbourne-based Bionic Vision Technologies (BVT), is poised to make major inroads into the retinitis pigmentosa treatment market with a breakthrough implantable device that aims to achieve for blind people what Cochlear achieved for the profoundly deaf. BVT has developed a “bionic eye” prosthetic implant that restores functional vision to those who are blind as a result of inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.

The device implanted in the rear of the eye (the retina) gives light perception and a sense of vision i.e., a much-improved ability to navigate surroundings and recognise faces. The BVT project is on track to complete clinical trials in early 2024 and make the device available commercially in late 2024 subject to further funding.

The Gennaris vision system from the Monash Vision Group, a second exciting bionic vision project, consists of custom headgear with a camera and wireless transmitter, a vision processor unit and software, and a series of 9 x 9 mm tiles implanted into the brain.

To enable a sense of vision, electrical impulses stimulate the brain and create a visual pattern which restores the person’s ability to navigate indoor and outdoors and have an awareness of people and objects nearby.