Blind man sees for the first time years thanks to bionic eye
After living in darkness for most of his life, a North Carolina man can now see thanks to a bionic eye.
66-year-old Larry Hester lost his vision in his thirties after being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, the disease slowly wore down his retinas until he was completely blind. But thanks to researchers at Duke University Eye Center, Hester's world won't be so dark from now on. The Center uploaded the moving YouTube video on Tuesday.
In September, doctors implanted a small device into Hester's left eye. The instrument, an Argus II Retinal Prostesis Device, consists of the implant, a video processor, and a pair of glasses that contain a camera. The camera picks up on the scene in front of the patient, then sends it to the video processor. The processor transforms the signals into instructions, which are sent back to the glasses and then wirelessly transferred to the eye implant. The users won't see what's in front of them, but they will see patterns of light interpreting what it is.
That might not seem too impressive, but for someone who hasn't been able to see for the better part of his life, it's nothing short of a miracle.
Hester is the seventh person to receive the FDA approved device, but the first to get the device at Duke.
Watch the full video below:
