Eye office myths are common, and a wide variety exists—from the feeling of receiving too many tests to thinking that all catar…
Are you over 50 years old and experiencing vision loss? One common age-related eye disease is macular degeneration (AMD). About 200 million people around the world experience it. AMD occurs when cells in your retina break down, damaging your central vision. You may see a dim or hazy point in the center of your vision, making it hard to do activities like reading and driving. If left unchecked, this point can slowly widen and cause permanent vision loss.
Curious about the potential to regain your ability to read even after the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? As indicated in a TIME magazine article published this November, an 87-year-old patient named Alice Charton experienced just that—all through the power of a 2-mm-by-2-mm eye computer chip. Specifically, Alice Charton went from not being able to read a book at all to reading for one hour twice a day.
Implantable computer chips have been in development since 2004 by a variety of neuroscience companies. Scientists are working on tailoring the location of a computer chip to specific eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). People may keep some peripheral vision but lose most of their central vision. For people with AMD, one potential spot to place a computer chip is in the retinal cells that control central vision.
Upon the insertion of the computer chip, a small camera on a pair of glasses can send infrared beams directly to the chip. Infrared light cannot be seen by the naked eye. This property allows your remaining peripheral vision to remain unblocked. The signals travel from the computer chip to the nerves in the back of your eye. These nerves then send signals to your brain, which can direct images to appear less blurry.
Lon Tweeten. “How the retinal chip works.” TIME, https://time.com/7330887/brain-computer-chips-future-of-medicine/.
Impact of Computer Chip Technology on Vision
Eye computer chip technology has been used in clinical trials with promising results. One clinical trial involved about 40 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The eye computer chip helped 80% of the patients identify an additional 20 letters on an eye chart. Also, 84% of the patients could read words and numbers. So, the patients are more likely to be able to complete daily tasks like reading books, item labels, and building signs. Some patients did experience side effects such as high pressure in the eye. However, nearly all the side effects that some patients experienced were resolved within just 2 months.
Based on the results of clinical trials, scientists are working on updating the computer chip to meet more vision needs. For example, scientists are working to increase the number of pixels in the computer chip from 400 to 10,000. This could lead to people with age-related eye diseases like advanced macular degeneration (AMD) having up to 20/80 or 20/20 vision. Also, about 680 companies around the world are working on computer chips for the brain. These companies are tapping into a market worth $1.74 billion in 2022 and potentially $6.2 billion by 2030. A major topic is how brain computer chips could translate people’s thoughts. This process could help people paralyzed by eye diseases more easily complete their daily activities. For example, people may be able to manage equipment such as phones, computers, and wheelchairs with greater ease. People may also be able to communicate through words on a screen and/or an AI-generated voice.
Concerned about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) symptoms and treatment options? Seeking personalized care from a practice up-to-date with the latest research developments? At Mittleman Eye, our team of award-winning optometrists and ophthalmologists are here to guide you each step of the way.
Symptoms of AMD may not be noticeable at first. One way to detect symptoms early and preserve your vision is by getting your yearly comprehensive eye exams. During comprehensive eye exams, our eye doctors use advanced retinal imaging technology. This technology can provide the most accurate image of your retina. If your treatment plan for AMD includes surgery, we offer two in-house suites. Each suite contains state-of-the-art equipment and procedures.
To schedule an appointment, text or call us at 561-500-2020, or go online to https://mittlemaneye.com/.
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