The Electric Eye: A Visual Prosthesis

Contemporary Science Issues and Innovations

October 26, 2010, Belmont Media Center, Belmont MA

Shawn Kelly, Ph.D., Senior Systems Scientist, Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, Carnegie Mellon University

The complexity of the eye makes restoration of vision a formidable challenge. Dr. Shawn Kelly explains how the eye “sees,” how blindness affects the retinal cells, and the difficulty of restoring even partial vision. He shows the development and testing of the visual prosthesis developed by the Boston Retinal Implant Project. This project, which involves teams from multiple institutions, is an outstanding example of the great achievements of science and engineering.

Eye_articleInline

New York Times 2009 story on the Boston Retinal Implant Project

Retinal implant as one of Time Magazine's 2009 50-Best Inventions

Technology Review's story on the Retinal Implant

Scientific AmericanSteps toward a Bionic Eye(2011)