According to the WHO, today more than 2.2 billion people suffer from vision problems, and for many of them it becomes a serious obstacle to a full and happy life. Modern medicine offers many solutions for improving vision, from glasses and contact lenses to laser correction, but not all of them can restore lost vision. Fortunately, Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, recently made a breakthrough that promises to change the world of ophthalmology forever. It has developed a chip that is installed in the human brain and allows it to see perfectly. Imagine a world in which blindness is no longer a death sentence. It seems to be becoming real, especially considering that there is another company that is trying to save people from blindness.
Neuralink now treats not only paralysis, but also blindness
Neuralink chip for treating blindness
Many major publications have reported that Neuralink, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has revolutionized the world of medicine with the development of the Blindsight visual implant.
The entrepreneur spoke about developing a technology for treating blindness already in 2023. He emphasized that people's vision will be restored gradually. At first, they will see “graphics” at the level of old game consoles like “Dendy”, but then vision will be restored so well that patients will even be able to perceive data in the infrared and ultraviolet ranges.
What the Blindsight chip looks like and when it will be installed in the human brain is currently unknown.
Once the Blindsight chip is installed in the brain, it works directly with the visual cortex, which is responsible for the functioning of the eyes. This means that even if a person has no eyes or optic nerve, but the part of the brain responsible for vision is not damaged, the implant will be able to restore a person's ability to see.
The device has already passed a major milestone, receiving “breakthrough device” status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This should significantly speed up approval for testing.
Neuralink has apparently already tested the device on monkeys, and the trials have confirmed that the technology works. The company is now looking for volunteers to test it on humans, in order to make this breakthrough treatment available as soon as possible.
Read also:Elon Musk's Neuralink: Why Does He Want to Chip People?
Technology to Protect Against Blindness
Neuralink is not the only company developing vision treatment devices. It is noteworthy that the head of the company, which closely competes with it in this area, is well acquainted with Elon Musk.
We are talking about Science Corp, which was founded by former Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak. In 2022, it introduced its own solution for people with vision problems to the world – the Science Eye implant. This device cannot cure blind people, but it can combat eye diseases that most often cause blindness.
The Science Eye visual implant, complete with cameras and processor. Image source: science.xyz
The Science Eye implant is an LED film that is surgically installed on the retina of the eye – the operation takes about two hours. During the surgery, an artificial protein is also injected into the eye, which makes the optic nerve cells more sensitive to light. For the implant to work, the patient must wear special glasses with cameras and a processor that convert the image into simple signals transmitted to the optic nerve. Although this device does not restore full vision, it allows you to perceive the world around you in a new way.
A couple of years ago, the Science Eye device was tested only on rabbits, but the company was ready to conduct trials on people. There is still no big news from Science Corp, but, after loud statements from Elon Musk, it may make itself known.
Read also: The most unexpected reasons why a person can go blind
Neuralink trials on people
Neuralink isn't just about restoring vision; it's better known for its chip that lets you control a computer with your mind.
In 2024, the company made important strides in developing neurochips for direct brain-computer communication. For example, in January, Neuralink astonished the public by implanting a neurochip in a human for the first time, and by February, the patient was able to move a cursor on a screen without touching a keyboard or mouse. By March, the company broadcast a patient playing online chess using only mental commands.
Neuralink Chip Testers Can Control a Computer with the Power of Thought. Image Source: vkplay.ru
The case of the second patient named Alex was especially impressive. After implantation in August 2024, a day later he was already playing the computer game Counter-Strike 2. He quickly mastered cursor control, achieving speed and accuracy many times greater than other people.
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