Scientists develop retinal implants that could give artificial vision to the blind

A retinal implant with more than 10,000 electrodes has been developed which could give blind people a form of vision. The implant connects wirelessly to a computer system which is in the frame of a custom-built pair of glasses that the person also wears. A camera attached to the frame beams signals to the implant via this computer and electrodes light up accordingly. Illuminated electrodes activate the eye's sight cells which sends an image to the brain. Vision comes in the form of black and white dots which, although vastly different to true sight, would allow people to distinguish shapes and, ultimately, objects. The technology is in the process of getting medical approval for humans and as yet has not been trialled in people.