A Chinese man who has lived with visual impairment for more than three decades has regained partial visual perception following the implantation of a tiny electronic chip in his eye, enabling him to recognise letters and numbers, pick up objects and avoid obstacles.
The procedure was performed in July at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University in Hubei Province, China, on a patient identified only by his surname, Qiu, according to a report by China Daily.
The technology uses specially designed glasses fitted with cameras to capture images of the surroundings and convert them into electrical signals. The signals are transmitted wirelessly to a chip implanted in the sclera, the outer white wall of the eyeball.
The implant stimulates nearby nerve pathways, which relay signals to the brain’s visual cortex, allowing the patient to perceive patterns of light that help him interpret objects around him.
The hospital’s Vice-President, Xiao Xuan, said Qiu began rehabilitation training after resting for a month following the operation, with his progress exceeding the medical team’s expectations.
Xiao explained that the patient was able to perceive light spots almost immediately after putting on the glasses. After three weeks of training sessions held three times a week, he could recognise and write numbers, letters and Chinese characters, accurately grasp objects and walk independently along visual markers.
She, however, noted that Qiu would require prolonged and systematic training to read texts accurately and distinguish objects with finer details.
According to Xiao, the rehabilitation process resembles how a baby learns to understand the world, as patients must gradually associate electrical stimulation patterns with familiar objects through repeated practice.
She said the implant is smaller than half a fingernail and does not penetrate the eyeball. Unlike some comparable technologies, it does not require connecting wires between the interior and exterior of the eye or external magnetic attachments.
Xiao added that placing the chip in the sclera rather than directly against the retina could reduce surgical damage, potentially making the procedure suitable for patients suffering from certain forms of blindness caused by nerve damage.
She identified retinitis pigmentosa, advanced age-related macular degeneration, severe glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy among the conditions that could potentially benefit from the technology. However, people whose eyeballs and optic nerves have been completely destroyed are not eligible for the treatment.
The hospital official stressed that the artificial vision produced by the implant remains different from natural sight, which enables people to perceive colours, depth and three-dimensional objects.
Instead, the device produces tiny points of light known as phosphenes, creating pixel-like patterns through electrical stimulation. Researchers are still working to reproduce colour vision and improve the accuracy with which signals are transmitted between the retinal nerves, optic nerve and brain.
Xiao said the long-term objective was to help visually impaired patients become more independent, including travelling alone, navigating obstacles and identifying banknotes.
Qiu, who works as a massage therapist, said his blindness had made independent movement difficult and dangerous. He recalled a near-collision with an electric motorbike that left him afraid of going out alone.
He expressed optimism about the gradual improvement in his visual perception, saying he hoped the technology would make everyday activities easier.
The report added that Qiu experienced mild eye irritation during the initial electrical stimulation and adjustment of the device but adapted to the treatment shortly afterwards.
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