Bionic Eye Research at CERA

CERA is a key clinical research partner in Bionic Vision Australia (BVA), a consortium of world-leading researchers, collaborating to develop an advanced bionic eye that will restore useful vision to people with advanced retinal diseases.

What is the bionic eye
The retina at the back of the eye converts images into nerve signals that travel via the optic nerve to the brain. Damage to the retina causes vision loss. The bionic eye is an implant connected to a video camera that mimics the function of the retina and restores sight.

How does the bionic eye work?
A video camera built into a pair of glasses transmits images in real time to a handheld, video-processing unit. Light patterns represented as electrical pulses are transmitted from the unit to a retinal implant containing an array of electrodes acting as artificial photoreceptors. Stimulated electrodes send signals along the optic nerve to the brain where the image is interpreted.

Who will benefit from the bionic eye?
People with severe vision loss caused by diseases affecting the retina such as Age-related Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa will benefit.

Who are the Bionic Vision Australia partners?
Bionic Vision Australia brings together a unique consortium of researchers, medical engineers, communication technology experts and eye specialists:

• The University of Melbourne
• The University of New South Wales
• National Information Communications Technology Australia (NICTA)
• The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
• The Bionic Ear Institute

What is CERA’s involvement?
CERA is conducting research into the visual responses of the brain to electrical stimulus so that the best possible outcome can be achieved and investigating ways to train new recipients to use the device

What are the specific aims of Bionic Vision Australia?
By 2011, BVA intends to develop a first generation bionic eye with 100 electrodes that allows people with severe vision loss to see the contrast between light and dark shapes and navigate around them unaided.

The first generation bionic eye will be followed three years later by a second-generation device that will give recipients the ability to recognise faces using 1000 electrodes.

How will the bionic eye benefit the wider community?
Development of an advanced bionic eye by Australian researchers brings the additional benefits of world-wide commercialisation potential, employment and enhancement of biotechnology research in Victoria and Australia.

For more information go to: www.bionicvision.org.au