Very soon, quite a number of people with eye problems will say goodbye to eyeglasses thanks to the bionic lens whose trials are underway.
For now, it is important to mention that trials for the bionic lens are at its advanced stage. The testing, which involves the pigs’ corneas are successful.
What is now remaining is to test this bionic lens on the human eye. As things are, everybody is optimistic. If that is the case and it happens that the trials go through successfully the human eye, then the issue of people wearing glasses because they have an eye problem will soon be a history.
What is a Bionic Lens?
For many years, let’s say close to 50 years, ophthalmic researchers continue to look for ways to help people with eyesight disorders to see without the use of glasses. It is not an easy search.
It is for this reason that they are thinking of developing a bionic lens that has the capability of helping people with eye complications to see from all angles.
The bionic lens is super small and can fit inside the human eye. Contrary to the normal eyeglasses, another person cannot easily see the bionic lens or the bionic contact lens unless he/she knows that you wear them.
The new device whose trials are underway is similar to the conventional contact lens. However, the bionic lens has other details. Some of the details that are present in the bionic lens, which makes the difference from the conventional contact lens are infrared lights and electronic circuits.
According to Babak Parviz from the University of Washington where he is, the assistant professor says that this innovation will be a great thing to the world. “It is possible for any wearer of the bionic lens to see virtually everything any normal human eye that does not have a problem can see.”
The Source of Bionic Lens
For a long time, medical researchers especially ophthalmics are working hard to see that those that have eye complications have a better vision.
Dr. David Smadja and some of his friends at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center are currently working on a medical invention to produce the 21st-century bionic lens. Others in the project are Professor Zeev Zalevsky, Professor J. P. Lellouche both of Bar-Ilan University Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials in Israel are working towards ensuring that the new bionic lens works out.
Aspects of The Bionic Lens
The beauty of the bionic lens is that wearers are able to see clearly see all things no matter the distance. They do not need to cover their eyes with anything. However, the bionic lens will be discreetly concealed inside their eyes.
Although the bionic lens is functional in the current trial stage, researchers are working toward adding other features. One of the features that will be added to the current bionic lens will be the ability of the lens to share the wearers’ perspective with other bionic lens wearers.
It is also believed that with the new bionic lens, there will be no more eye surgery or cataracts. This will add a new healthy life to patients who are living with eye complications.
The other advantage will fall to patients who suffer from glaucoma. In this case, according to researchers, cataracts create a bad image in the eyes’ lens thus forming toxins that are harmful to the normal eye.
Once the tests that are currently underway are successful, there will be no eyeglasses and cataracts. The other thing is that glaucoma patients will have a relief.
According to WHO, currently, more than 22 million people currently suffer from glaucoma and any form of cataracts. All these people have passed 40 years and are likely to suffer from other related eye complications as they advance in age. This will happen unless the bionic lens works.
The same WHO report and other responsible bodies say that the number of those who suffer from these eye complications is likely to rise to over 30 million by 2020.
It is for this rising reason that any efforts to reduce or even curb the rise of this number are welcome. Preliminary reports from the tests show that it is possible for the bionic lens to work magic.
More Needs to Be Done
It is unfortunate that although the bionic lens invention seems to be heading in the right direction, there are other things it may not be able to solve.
For instance, some eye complications need more research and several years before they finally get a solution. For now, some of the eye complications that need scientific attention include damaged optic nerves, cloudy corneas, as well as color blindness among other serious complications.
The Cost
For now, those living with eye complications will have to wait a while longer before their problem gets solved. But even before then, those working behind the bionic lens are already saying the price each bionic lens will sell at.
A bionic lens for a single eye will soon go for $3,200. That means that if you want to have a bionic lens in both eyes, you will need to part with twice this amount, which total $6,400.
The above price for a single eye or double eyes only covers the payment of the bionic lens. One needs to top-up with an extra cost if they want the bionic lens to be inserted.
No one can say that they can buy the bionic lens and walk home with it. You must meet the cost of doing the surgery to insert the bionic lens.
Therefore, although the bionic lens is good news to those staying with eye complications, there must be a cost. One has to pay quite a lot of money to finally receive the bionic lens.
The beauty is that as technology gets more advanced, chances are that the price of the bionic lens will ultimately come done. Besides, there are chances that the new bionic lenses will come with advanced features.
For now, the world needs to continue anticipating for the better the bionic lens will bring. Although the price may be too high, the benefits of the bionic lens are excessively far.
