Re: Eye Surgery

Posted By hfhs md - NI on January 13, 1999 at 01:09:36:

In Reply to: Eye Surgery  posted by Ross Catterton on January 12, 1999 at 18:35:06:






  Dear Recipient,
I was recently watching a star trek movie and when I saw Jordi the blind officer, something in my mind clicked.
I thought that maybe it would be possible to implant a robotic eye in the socket of a blind individual for they have been proven to work.
My only question was that is there a way to connect optic fibers in the robotic eye to nerves?
For after looking at a diagram of the eye I found that the optic nerve at the back of the eye is like one big plug.
And I thought if somehow those could be welded together.
Probably not but it was just a thought.
Or use sonic pulse technology some how, cause I thought that would be neat.
Thanks, Ross Catterton, age 13
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Ross,
I am very happy to see how interested you are in new ideas.  You are right, there is research underway to implant devices in eyes to detect light and images.  This would only work in people who have intact optic nerves.  Currently there is no way to replace or reconnect an optic nerve.
I want to emphasize that this implant is in the very early research phase and will porbably not be available for many years.
This information is provided for medical education purposes only.  Anyone with eye problems should see his or her ophthalmologist for diagnostic and treatment options.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD - NI