Bionic Eyes: Giving the Blind a Chance to See Again

You've probably heard of bionic arms and bionic legs, but a bionic eye? The technology seems like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but it's not as farfetched as you think; just ask Ron, a recipient of a bionic eye system who made the news in 2009. He lost his sight more than three decades ago as a result of retinitis, inflammation of the retina. Then, he became the platform for testing a new bionic eye system at the time: the Argus II.

The system is no cure for retinitis; once the retina is inflamed, you lose your vision for good (although some feasible treatments are entering their clinical phase). However, the Argus II serves as a second retina; a camera mounted in a pair of glasses transmits images to a chip implanted in the retinal area. This bionic eye basically works like a security camera, giving the blind eye a chance to see again. For Ron, the system clearly changed his life; after more than 30 years, he could finally see once more.

The technology is set to improve at this point, not just with bionic eyes and optical implants but also in terms of treatment. Doctors and scientists are on the verge of finding a solution to blindness that affects thousands around the world. Eye doctors want to get in front of the crusade against the loss of vision, sharing the honor of letting the blind see again.

Seeing the World with New “Eyes”: LASIK Surgery

For people who wear glasses or contacts, the first thing they do in the morning is to look for whatever eye wear they need in order to see the world. Playing sports, doing chores, and other physical activities are also harder because eyeglasses can fog up or slip when you sweat, take a tumble, or leap. Contact lenses are itchy and hard to put on, plus they're very pricey! So if you're tired of all these inconveniences, then maybe you should consider LASIK surgery.

LASIK surgery is fast and painless. It may be expensive at first, but you save money in the long run since it's meant to be a permanent solution. With LASIK, you wouldn't need to buy new pairs of eyeglasses or contact lenses anymore. Anesthesia is applied to numb the eyes before surgery so you need not worry about the pain. After ten to thirty minutes of painless surgery where you are fully conscious, you'll be seeing the world quite clearer than you ever did.

The procedure may seem daunting because it involves cutting through and reshaping your cornea, but it does help you see better. If you're thinking about getting LASIK done, then find a reputable eye doctor who will perform the surgery. It's no small thing, indeed, to see the world crystal clear, or to wake up and finally be able to see your own toes when you sit up.

Some Serious Eye Problems That Require Surgical Corrections

Some people prefer to wear contact lenses than eyeglasses because they are more flexible. For one, they’re quite inconspicuous. You ma y also change the colors of your lenses as often as you'd like. You can have blue eyes one day, green the next day, or violet a week later to match the color of your clothes.

However, some eye problems can’t be corrected easily by wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses. These include cataracts and glaucoma, two of the more serious diseases that can affect your eyes. Cataracts are when cloudy areas develop within your eye lens. These hinder light from passing through, thereby obscuring your vision. They form slowly, and although may not be painful, can cause redness or tearing in the eye. Wearing glasses will not correct them, only surgery will.

Another serious eye problem is glaucoma which is a progressive deterioration of the optic nerve. It is caused by an increased pressure of the eye as a result of an injury, severe infection, blockage of eye vessels, and other conditions. It can be treated by prescription eye drops if discovered early, but it is mainly treated with surgery when the problem is serious. The best way to avoid these serious eye problems, however, is to see your eye doctor regularly.