Neuralink Announces Blindsight Implant That Will Restore Sight Even to Those Blind from Birth

Elon Musk announced that his startup Neuralink has developed an experimental visual implant called Blindsight, which will allow even people who have been blind since birth to see. In the future, the device will be able to detect other spectra, in addition to the optical spectrum that humans are accustomed to — superhuman vision from science fiction will become a reality.

Blindsight is a chip that functions even if a person has no eyes or optic nerve. The main thing is that the patient does not have injuries to the visual cortex of the brain, and then the device will work. The ability to see will be restored gradually, Neuralink says. This is necessary so as not to overload the brain. When the organ gets used to the load, the quality of vision will improve. 

At the final stage, the owner of Blindsight will be able to see even better than an ordinary person. The patient should have the ability to see in the infrared, ultraviolet or radar range. 

The FDA recognized the Blindsight implant as a “breakthrough device”. This status indicates that the product provides treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening conditions.

The billionaire compared Neuralink’s development to the futuristic device worn by the congenitally blind Star Trek character Geordi La Forge.