Hi,
my younger sister nerve is weak thats why her vision ability is low i want to know that is their any possiblity of improving vision.

A.samad, karachi, pakistan

Hi,
my sister is 8 years old and her brain nerve is weak thats why her vision ability is low i want to know that is their any possiblitiy of improving vision.

A.samad, karachi, pakistan

my dad has lost his sight since 2005 , becauseof glucoma, i would really like to know how and where this procedure can be done?he is desperate and also willing to pay for his operation.thanks.

ade kay, abbeywood, london

Hi
I am Diabetic, had a catarack removed, then the retina came loose due to laser. The doctor who operated on my eye said he has damaged the main nerve. I can only see blurred visions and light and dark. Are there any hope of fixing or replacing the nerve?? I am 48 years old

Chris Calitz, Meyerton, South Africa

my dad has lost his eyesight 3 years ago because of complications with diabetes and i would really like to know how and where this procedure can be done! He is desperate and willing to pay. how can we go forth with this procedure
thanx

Tamsyn Smit, Cape Town, South Africa

is there any new technology for photophobia patients i m photophobic and colorblind since my childhood i can only see the large images only very weak eyesight i have now i m very worried about i cant drive if u have any solution plz help me

faisal, london, uk

I had a rare eye disease, Acanthamoeba Kerititis
now ok.
a cataract removed, dangerous to eye.
Now my eye has detached retina, cornia badly damaged
low eye pressure. Drs. say to operate, risk, wouldnt
benefit, minimum to see. not even 20%. I see perimeters vague images. Any new breakthru

anna, jerusalem,

I have a 34 year old male friend who lost his sight at age 23, due to an explosion. He has undergone already 4 operations in one eye, all of which were unsuccesful. Is there any hope that this procedure could give him his sight back? Please advise. Thank you.

Jana, Quebec, Canada

sir i visited the site and have a hope that my father could see.he lost his eyes due to some viral disease may be fungus.he is using xalatan to control the pressure .if there is any hope please reply.

hammad, bahawalpur, pakistan

hi

i have my big brother who suffered from an eyesight condition where pressure built up in his eyes (was told the normal pressure is supposed to be 10/10 but his built up to 80) now he is blind, is there any hope for restoring his eyesight again with the help of the bionic eye?

Gloria Mudola Band, Nairobi, Kenya

Firstly, thanks for all the people who involved created this amazing invented bionic eye. It is chance for people who blind. like my son, he had retinaplastoma on both eye at 2 year old. now. he both eye ball total removed away save his life. we hope the this can solved all the blindness children.

David Wu, Auckland, Mew Zealand

Firstly,
I would like to congratulate all those that were involved in this researchand successful execution. This gives a light of hope to all those who cannot see. I myself am blind in one eye which I lost through an injury 25 Years Ago. God bless all.

Niraj Shah, Edgware, Harrow., United kingdom

My husband severed his optic nerve and has totally damaged eyes. He is 100% blind, Is there any chance this will work for him?

Polly Davis, Harlem, Georgia, USA

My mother is becoming blind becuase of a retinal disease. this could help , i hope from all my heart that invension could give mum's sight back and could see me again.
I will pray for the inventors to God.

salim, London, England

My mom has glaucoma and is totally blind in one eye and rapidly loosing sight in the other. Will this technology work for her?

Leah Cavitt, St. Louis, USA

Hello
to everyone
I want to know that Will bionic eye solve RP(retinis pigmentosa) problem?
my father is blind already of RP. I and my sister are patient also of RP
pls

Emil Semedov Elbrus, Baku, Azerbaycan

My son, Connor, is 6 yrs old and just recently told me " I wish I wasnt blind. Why cant I be the same as the other kids mum?" It broke my heart. The discovery of the bionic eye certainly gives us all, where vision impairment touches our lives, a glimmer of hope for what the future may bring.

Alexandria Lancaster, Sydney, Australia

Hello! My bestfriend met an accident 3 years ago and she damaged her retina and was told she don't have any hopes on restoring her sight. She was married after the accident and she had a 3-y/o daughter. I wish I could help her to be recipient of this bionic eye. She had 2 operations before.

Carolyn, Davao, Philippines

I'm a mum of a children of 9years old.my son is born with a ROP. He has got some possibilities to use the "bionic eye"?
Excuse me for my english, but I'm an italian mum.

D'AMATO ANTONIETTA, taranto, italy

As the mother of a blind 5 year old boy this news is very encouraging. Thanks so much for the information, it brings us so much hope for his future.

Julie Smith ,Snohomish Washington

Julie Smith, Snohomish, USA

I am aged 35 mom of 2. I began going blind to RP years ago . In 1996 when I was told I had 5 to 10 years to lose it all, my first fear was that I would never get to see my baby smile at me. This is reality now! God & science have other plans for tomorrow. All things work together for good- BELIEVE

Tiffany S Stockbridge GA USA, Stockbridge, USA

From a 35 year old male with RP and very little sight left and a lot of bumping into things.. Thank you ever so much
Rob in USA

Rob, Wallingford, USA

Wonderful! Would you send me more information about this. I am a practicing ophthalmologist in Colima, Colima, México. Thanks in advance

Dr. Guadalupe Guerrero Martínez, Colima, colima, México

I saw a doc on this on TV. The older version had a plastic "plate" with electrodes that stuck right in the brain. When an electrode "hit" it would flash light. Very crude. This seems much more advanced and smaller. The original had a massive battery pack, probably around 10 k / 22lbs worn as a belt.

Steve B, Canada,

How very cool! Mashallah what wonderful work!

Farrukh, Woking, UK

This is incredible! What a wonderful thing for sight deprived folks. Bravo!

Ron, Milan, IL, US

That is amazing! How do they interface to the optical nerve?

Matt, Huntsville, USA/AL

Wonderful breakthrough in science and creativity.
These scientists are true heroes

Dennis, Johannesburg, South Africa.

What has this got to do with god? It's about SCIENCE!

Sascha, London,

Can you put a price on sight?.


I Needn't i say more...


And those who answer Yes, havn't seen enough amazing things.

Ste, Wakefield,

Jeff,

It was reported years ago...I recall something similar in the Sunday Times in 1994 or 1995 - "Eye chip gives sight to the blind". Show how long it takes to get from early-stage concept to working prototype

Carl, London,

Simply incredible technology!

An unfortunate development, however, is that of the 'feedback' forum where even the most interesting story becomes tainted with negativity and utter foolishness.

John, Kingsport, US

Nice one Tim. A very neat way to get the God fearing to approve stem cell research. Well done.

John, Sussex,

This is a hope for the blind peoples.

Marco, Brasilia/Ceilandia, Brasil/DF

Well, as a scientist, I'm telling you there's nothing more annyoning than hearing some deluded / conceited christians banging on about how all of our hard work and dedication to furthering the knowlage of humanity (despite frequent opposition of said christians) is not our doing at all, and infact we owe our thanks to some invisible sky fairy explicitly documented (as malicious) in the poorly translated scribblings of some halfwit iron age savages.

What a joke you people are. Faith is a millstone around the neck of progress, and it always has been.

JC, Newcastle, UK

Tim's views remind me of a story in the bible where a merchant was leaving his house to go on a business trip and gave each of his servants some talent. All his servants doubled thier talent except one who buried his. Surely God will not like us burying our talents if we can double it and use it.

George, London, UK

First of all, God did create the human body perfect; it is sin that corrupts it. Second, technology is something God knew we would achieve. He said it in Genesis, that’s why he confused the speech at the tower of Babel. He knew we were not ready for the responsibility of such technology.

Scott, Cincinnati,

These inventions are truly wonderful and I am very proud of the courageous individuals who have chosen to take the risk to endure these procedures. They are not only trying to benefit themselves, they also help advance the technology and provide hope for others who are similarly affected.

Karim, Orlando, FL

Thanks God...my Sister is sufferring from retinitis pigmentosa. I think the the Great Allah has listned to us...May Allah help those Doctors (Angles in true meaning...) to finalized their research...and my sister can see the beautiful word the Almighty God has created...Amen.Lets all pray for that.

Gulamahmed Patel, London,

Some good news at last. Why is this not headlines on the TV news?

David Stanley, Oswestry, UK

When will people learn that there is no god. It's just a made up concept to complete our needs as humans. The American version of "faith" is similar to childlike notions of a greater being which has nothing to do with the more complex issues raised by theological concepts.

God has nothing to do with blindness or the solutions to this problem.

It's time that "religion" is pushed to the sidelines and removed from the mainstream. It is not normal to believe in God - it is irrational and ridiculous.

quentin Piers, London,

To Scott S: It is so easy to knock the NHS, it needs some fixing, but it is still better than we have here. At least GB has a civilized health system, all get to see a doctor. The US pay 3x more per capita than GB on medicine, yet only 40% have adequate med insurance. Even then a big illness can bankrupt a family. I have millionaire friends in their 60's who can't afford full med cover and are paying $1,000+/ month for catastrophic cover only. A neighbour of mine had to re-mortgage their house to pay the $2,400 a month bill for their son's medicine. A friend in his 30's just suffered a massive stroke; we are trying to raise money to help him, his wife and their 4 week old baby.

It is also worth pointing out that life expectancy is the same in the US and GB.

The US puts profit before people and greed ahead of health, patient needs or fairness.

I hope this technology is perfected and that the medical companies don't do as the drug companies and gouge the patient.

Michael G, Seattle, WA, USA

I have been watching the development of this technology. I also have age related macular degeneration and no vision in the left eye.
I also have the finest health insurance possible and if my doctor says this is a good idea, the insurance company will go along with him.
The equipment for this is "off the shelf" and nothing really new. Just a better way to use the equipment.
With the newly developed microtechnology improving day by day, I hope before I died at the age of 148 that I can see out of the left eye again.

Robert Cowger, Poteet, Texas

Congratulaions we wait with all our heart for technology like this as we have a blind son ( caused through a car accident ) right eye has a severed optic nerve left eye has about 3% sight but has damage to nerves which has caused a frozen eyeball and other problems but his two eyes we are told are perfectly healthy if there are any ideas or discoveries that could help our son in any way we would be so grateful for imformation as we dream that one day he will see again keep up your amazing work thank you
Hazel Knight, Victoria, Australia.

Hazel Knight, Ballarat, Victoria Australia

Re Tim's comments - God did not design the eye, they evolved or where designed by natural selection.Using your logic, GO dmust have also designed the defect !
Prayer only has psychological benefit much like a placebo pill - you want proof ? Check out this study - American Heart Journal , Volume 151 , Issue 4 , Pages 934 - 942 , which concluded that "certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications."

David Maxfield, auckland, NZ

Please keep in mind: this technology will only be effective in cases of comparative recent blindness, with the optic nerve unaffected.
With people who are born blind or (in the case of my wife) were blinded in childhood, this nerve would have suffered too much atropy to become functional again.

Paul Houldcroft, Reggio Emilia, Italy

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him; we can make him better, stronger, faster...."

( intro to the $6,000,000 Man t.v.show of the '70s)

jack, eastford, ct

More science fiction becoming fact- remember Geordi, with the vision-assisted eyeglasses, on Star Trek:Next Generation?

This is the miraculous progress of science that gives hope to all of us and improves our lives- perhaps even enough be assured that we will be able to see our yet-to-be-born grandchildren, should we ourselves suffer vision impairment.

It is not "interfering with God"; rather, it is using God's gift of human intelligence to make things better.

To those scientists and engineers, keep at it- we all want to be able to watch!

Ron, Tampa, FL/ USA

Tim, Reading.
I didn't realise that Reading was a hotbed of idealogical non-reasoning.
You are probably one of those people that believe that a 1% success rate for prayer working mean something other than pure luck/chance.
Not understanding certain evolutionary steps doesn't make them designed

Niall, Edinburgh,

The true God want's all to see. I asked him, and he said yes. That is why he gave the doctors the smarts to do this. God is GREAT. Thank God. Thanks to the doctors also. Good to go, people.

Willie Brown, Augusta, GA

Well, as a sufferer of juvenile macular degeneration for 28 years, I find this encouraging. This technology was announced in the last year or two and I said I wouldn't be a guinea pig. I appreciate the brave ones who are, especially those with RP, whose vision loss is far worse than my own. Getting my eyes back is a possibility I only recently embraced. Hope grows with news like this.

Heather B, Marietta, GA, USA,

To Albert.....

They do have something for deaf people. It is called the Cochlear implant. I know many people (I work for the company) who have them implanted and they say that it is nothing short of being a miracle. Go to Cochlear.com for more info.

Tracy, Denver, CO, USA

This sounds like a wonderful thing. The story of the lady who can now shot hoops with her grandchildren brought a tear to my eye.

As for Tim from Reading comments, I read them with amusement - I suspect that they were written in jest.

Nicola, Leeds, UK

Brilliant work! How can this be considered a bad thing by any rational human being?

On the God aspect: the way I see it is that giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, food to the hungry is not interfering with god. It IS God.

Rod, Dingwall, Scotland

Albert Antona -

There is such a device for some of the deaf; it's called a cochlear implant.

Tim in Reading -

I figured there was a reason G*d gave mankind an advanced brain. I certainly find nothing in the Bible suggesting we shouldn't use it.

TallerThinner, Bogalusa, LA, USA

Maybe blindness will be eradicated altogether in the future? I reckon this will stir up some strong emotions and opinions within the blind community!

I can't begin to comprehend how someone who has never seen the face of their own mother, suddenly can!

Rich, London,

I'm saddened by the comment that claims to be from a God-believing person who thinks this technology is contrary to His will. I am a God-believing person, and my first reaction when I learned about this technology was "THANK YOU GOD!" I believe God fully supports this technology and I know most people who believe in God would agree with me.

Jennifer, Northampton, MA

My husband has macular degeneration. He has only periferal vision and that is very limited. Our Retina specialists, Dr. Matthew Thomas of the Barnes Retina Institute in St. Louis has treated him for 15 years. He told us a while back that one day this would happen. I hope it can come to the states and be available to his patients and all others the bionic eye can help.

Penny Amos, Sparta, ILL

Tim The fact that the lady is blind from natural causes or that almost all of us suffer from tooth decay, cancer etc. proves that your GOD is a myth. A myth made up to shield you and others like you from fear of what you don't understand. On one hand you postulate a surpreme being, all knowing, all powerful etc,, able to change matter with thought (the "let there be light and there was light B__L S__T) and yet your GOD can not design teeth that will not decay, a body free of thousands of design flaws, a body not comprom. and degraded by the enviorment etc. If your GOD was an engineer in the here and now he (or she, maybe "It") would be out of a job due to incompetence and probably the target of coutless lawsuits for "pain and suffering". Tim, Your GOD doesn't exist. Heaven doesn't exist and the only Hell there is is what we make for ourselves while we live on this earth. Tim, don't beat people who try to improve on our deeply flawed design in order to improve someones life.

James Ward, Carrollton/ Texas, USA

People who think that God is being interfered with as
result of scientific inventions such as these are witless.
If you had your way we would still being packing wounds with manure and 'driving demons' out of the mentally ill.. As a thinking Christian I know He give us the power to create medicines and devices to aid all of humankind. I only
wish it had been available to my father who was blinded
in the war.

Kate, Victoria BC, Canada

Tim -
Your belief that prayer can solve blindness (or any other ailment) is the backwards way of thinking that we need to leave in the 19th century. Welcome to the 21st century, where we have engineered devices to help us diagnose and cure diseases and other ailments. Would you really have us deny the gift of sight to the blind if we can use our God-given intelligence to create a device to restore sight?

You remind me of the story of the guy that drowned in a flood, after rescuers in a raft, boat, and helicopter came to get him. To each of them, the man said "Don't worry about me. God will save me. I have prayed to him." The man drowns, goes to heaven, and asks God why he didn't save him. God says to the man, "I sent you a raft, a boat, and a helicopter. What more did you want me to do?" God gave us the intelligence to help these people. Why shouldn't we use it?

Mark, Chicago,

I'm a christian too, TIm, but in cases like this, I see scientists using their God-given talents to relieve suffering in the world, and praise Him for the talent, learning, and dedication to service that brings such results.

Jerry, Modesto, USA

Jerry, Modesto, CAlifornia, USA

Tim,

You say the only way to cure these ailments is through prayer.

Well, Tim- I'm deaf, and yet I hear. I do this through a similar implant that restored my hearing. Now I use the phone, enjoy music, and listen to the birds sing. THAT'S the truth and I AM the evidence.

Jeff, Kalamazoo, Michigan

I really do think that all of the modern medical miracles will prolong and enhance the lives of millions. But tell me, how is all this going to be paid for. When medicine can do all things for all people we will find that our entire GDP will be devoted to medical care and pension costs. I don't [rp[pse an answer, just thought to ask the question.

david wachtfogel, manhattan beach, ca

Hey Tim,
I'd love to see what would happen if you were to lose your eyesight. I bet you would be in line for this procedure when it become mainstream. I suppose hearing aids and pace makers are also on your condemned list. God created man in his image, and gave him the brains to invent these wonderful advances in technology to heal these people on earth as he would in heaven. Perhaps you should walk in another mans shoes before you judge him.

Dana, New Orleans, LA

God... god has yet to be proven! Science on the other hand... can give you another hand. I've yet to see anyone pray and grow a new hand back!

Science should be forwarded at every possible moment. This is the only way we as a race can slow the weakening of the human race and help build a stronger new race.

Some day I may need an organ, a limb or some other body part replaced. I hope that should that day come I will have an option other than to simply accept it.

Robert, Westville,

Wow! God talk!! (Does anyone else think the 'playing God' comments by Tim of Reading may perhaps, I dunno, have been just a bit tongue-in-cheek?)

Serious point — being able to design and make cool stuff like these retinal implants is part of being made in God's own image.

Andy Jones, Durham, UK

The same God that gave us glasses to wear and pictures to see can give sight to the blind by gifted people that God gives wisdom to to do this kind of thing. I say go for the new technology if it helps blind people then why be against it ?

Mark, Hyder, Alaska

Tim, in the event that you go blind may God bless you with the miracle of renewed sight, personally I'll but my faith in medicine and hope that this breakthrough can restore my sight in the event of it failing.

Adam, Salisbury, UK

Another giant leap of science only to be discounted by religious nut jobs. When will they learn?

Maxx, L'ton, NC

To the self righteuos Tim. Do you wear glasses, do you wear clothes, do you drive, do you use lights at night, do you take asperin, do you ....... I guess there'll always be a few that'll degrade the civilized gene pool. Sorry, I suppose you don't have genes either - not the kind you're wearing.

ep, mississauga, ca

This is a marvellous advance in science and surely will, together with the new developments to help spinal patients walk again, revolutionise medicine.

Shame then that we won't be able to afford it on the NHS due to the awful wastage, poor management and vast influx of immigrants isn't it?

David, St Albans, UK

Oh, I see how to play the game now. If it's good, then we attribute it to God...no matter what sort of gyrations or contortions of logic we have to go through to make the leap. And if something bad happens? We don't attribute that to God, of course. No, couldn't be. There must be an anti-God gumming up the works somewhere.

Isn't it more reasonable to believe that the world is exactly as it appears, and nothing more?

Rick Clark, Salt Lake City, UT

I don't care what god says. sight is my favorite sense, so if I ever become blind, you can bet that I'll want to see again, no matter what some oldfashioned biblethumpers think.

Meg, louisville, ky,

Man is truly amazing. All this God talk has no place here. We are discussing giving back to people something they lost. Just think about how many lives we can better!

There is one cautionary thing here though. I feel these implants should only be given to those who need them. No human should get rid of their eyes because implants become superior. (This will be way into the future.) The day man starts replacing his body with tech (when he doesn't need to) is the day we lose our humanity.

Rick, Avon, IN

God uses us to cary out his works. If you are cured or healed by the help of a doctor it is also a healing/miracle from God. After-all GOD is the one who placed that Doctor in your life!

sarah, Toms River, NJ

REF: Tim, Reading, UK

All Wisdom is from God, and for most people in the world who don't have enough faith to get a miracle, The LORD created Doctors. Luke was one you Know.

Dan Isley, Rifle, Colorado, USA

An answer to Tim stating that we are playing God. Did not God give us brains to figure out problems? Is it playing God to make or wear glasses? Do we pray that we don't need bifocals in our old age or do we wear them? I don't mean to knock your faith but you need some common sense, (also God given) What about the ailment of hunger? Do we pray that God will fill our stomachs miraculously or do we chew, and swollow our food? Your telling these scientists not to try and help blind people is like me telling you you're playing God when you eat. Don't you trust him to keep you alive when you don't eat? Where's your faith? The true abomination is not the camera implant. It is you, sitting on your butt, "praying," while others do the work of God attempting to give sight to the blind. It's time to exercise some real faith. Get out there and help someone. Pray for them first, and if God doesn't miraculously heal them, given them the implant. Faith without works is dead.

keith, ephrata, pa

How can you people possibly say these things about not playing God? If you were the ones receiving these incredible transplants, you would be thanking Him for this incredible technology, and for the brilliant and dedicated men and women who made it possible. Calling these surgeries 'abominations' is right up there with saying that we shouldn't cure cancer because God put those tumors there, and how dare we disturb them?

Ever think that maybe we are given these challenges in life in order to overcome them? And if we can truly defeat disease, disability or any other form of suffering and hardship, why should we settle for learning to live with it?

Molly, Charlottesville, VA

AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Tim from Reading you crack me up.

And yes, the bionic eye is VERY cool!

Erin, Sydney, NSW

I think that we can all agree this achievement is nothing short of amazing. I'm sure incremental improvements will follow allowing for eventual restoration of 20/20 full color vision.

Chad, Cleveland, GA

Wonderful news! I hope they can come up with something similar for deaf people.

Albert Antona, St Albans, Herts

This is ridiculous. Humans playing god again. First it was stem cells now this. When will we learn?

Only the true GOD, the true designer can design eyes. These abominations have no place in GODs kingdom. People should realise the only way to cure ailments like this is through prayer. That is the TRUTH and all EVIDENCE will support it.

Tim , Reading, UK

This was reported on months ago. They did this exact thing out in California last year. Glasses and a camera were used and everything. The people could distinguish light from dark and some basic shapes. It is believed that they will be able to do color very soon. Old news.....People need to catch up to the times. There are so many breakthrouhgs out there that dont get the kind of world wide attention they should get. With everyone so focused on stem cell research to fix people who are paralyzed, the connection to the human brain with a computer has gone almost completely un-noticed. People can move robotic arms with their mind now and hardly anyone knows about it. In a few years, I'm sure we will have handicapped people with bionic legs walking down the street. People need to catch up!!!!!!

Jeff Shaffer, Temecula, California

It is truly amazing what eye doctors (ophtalmologists) can do these days. My amazement at this science began when I had both of my eye lenses extirpated because of a hereditary illness and replaced with artificial lenses. But now that these doctors are giving the gift of sight to blind people, I cannot stop wondering what other amazing feats of medicine awaits us in the future. My deepest thanks to these great doctors.

Feliciano Leon, Tucson, Arizona

Great Stuff... Keep up your good work and research and returns the millions who are deprived from seeing the beautiful world........

Tarek Kalam, Manchesater,

Wow! Amazing! I just thought the world used it's technology
to make things smaller. I'm glad we can do something useful.

Coral, Camano Island, WA

Ha ha! The NHS will never pay for this expensive technology. As many people know, it won't pay for Lucentis or other sight-saving drugs.

Now it claims after you go blind, you can get an extremely poor substitute? What about preventing blindness in the first place?

The NHS puts money ahead of sight, health, and common sense.

Scott S., Sacramento, California,

These folks, and the ones that have tested out the bionic arm with primates, connecting the arm to the brain, so that it can be controlled,

God bless them.

Dave, Springfield, USA, MA

Very cool.

Mike, Wilmington, DE, USA

Wait till a company named Omnivision add's it's revolutionary True Focus technology to it. This will allow much better focusing in real time. Omnivision (OVTI) hsa the patents on wave front coding and it takes everything that is out of focus and focuses it. new cameras are about to come out with this feature. They have a medical line of sensors also and this is a great direction for TrueFocus to go.
Hopefully soon the blind will be able to see and not just the rich ones but all blind people.

Ken, Virginia, Va

How wonderful.

Margaret, Lincoln, UK

This is so amazing!! Well done to all the people developing these life-changing devices.

Amy Rose, Southampton, UK