Scientists Figured Out How To Embed Photocells In The Eyes
A team of scientists from various fields, including engineers, neuroscientists and doctors, including researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), are developing methods to restore vision using solar panels implanted into the eyeball.
The prototype photocell eye created at UNSW has an area of 1 cm2. He showed a good result. After finalizing the photo sensors and animal experiments, the dimensions of the ocular photoneuroimplant will be reduced to 2 mm2 with pixels up to 50 microns. Connecting all this with the optic nerve will be a different and completely difficult task. But if it worked with stimulation of the auditory nerves, then why couldn’t it work with stimulation of the eye nerves?
The solution being developed in Australia will not be a full replacement for lost vision. Someday this will be possible. At first, if it comes to eye neuroimplants, the built-in vision will be monochrome and low resolution. In addition, to stimulate even increased sensitivity of photocells in the eyeballs, additional wearable devices such as lasers in smart glasses will be needed. But it’s better to transfer energy to the eyes this way than with wires.
The research is still at the concept stage, and the first successful results have been achieved using two layers of solar panels over an area of about 1 square cm.
