Eyesight is one of our most valuable senses - if
it's damaged in any way it has a major impact on life.
Two exciting new developments from the South West of England
could make a major difference to the lives of many sight-impaired
people around the world. Researchers from the University of Bristol
have recently reported the first evidence of progenitor cells, also
known as stem cells, in the retina. They are now looking at the
conditions needed to turn them into nerve cells or photo receptor
cells. If they can achieve this, then they are well on the way to
controlling eye disease by helping the injured retina restore
itself.
And for those suffering from colour blindness, the
"Eyeborg" offers a way to accurately distinguish colour.
A prosthesis that enables the wearer to identify different colours
by a series of sounds associated with colour frequency, the
"Eyeborg" has been developed by a lecturer in
cybernetics, working with an artist suffering from achromatopsia -
a condition that means he can only see in black and white!
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