Artificial Cornea for the Blind
October 3, 2007 by Lauren
We've had numerous innovations for the deaf, as well as for those with less-than-perfect vision. Now, the time has come to employ artificial corneas for the blind.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed the gadget so that it will attach to the patient's natural cornea. The animal testing phases of this invention are complete, and the human trials are scheduled to begin some time next year. You'd probably worry about how easy it is to go on living normally with something like this in your eye socket, but it seems to be about the equivalent of an intricate contact lens. It will constantly be covered with tear fluid, as usual, and cells of the natural cornea can grow and latch onto the implant.
The actual, full explanation of this was over my head, but most of us can follow "artificial cornea". This could provide some real hope for the blind, assuming testing goes well.
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