Orion implant will restore eyesight for vision impaired patients 

Second Sight Medical Products has introduced a prototype of an artificial eye for different types of vision, including infrared imaging.

Bionic eyes are indispensable for vision impaired people who want to enjoy the world in full color. With this new device from Second Sight Medical Products, they will see even more than the average person, as the device can operate in many modes, including infrared imaging. 

The essential element of the implant is a visual cortical prosthesis system, which is connected to a part of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for visual processing. In simple terms, this is an adapter between the patient’s brain and a camera mounted on a pair of glasses. It processes visual signals and transfers them to the patient’s brain. 

The installation process takes less than a day, and then the patient needs some time to adapt to their new vision. Although the device does not show high-resolution images, this new type of vision is sufficient for the patient to navigate through any environment and see the people they are talking to, the source of light, etc.

What’s more, the camera modules are interchangeable, which makes it possible to adjust the implant for operation in unusual vision modes.