The Bionic Vision Australia project

Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) is a national consortium of researchers working together to develop bionic eye devices to restore a sense of vision to people with profound vision loss.

Who will benefit from the bionic eye?

People with profound vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration may benefit from the bionic eye. The bionic eye technology relies on a healthy optic nerve and a developed visual cortex – people need to have been able to see in the past to use this device. Those who have very profound vision loss will benefit most from the technology.

Retinitis pigmentosa is the main form of inherited blindness. It affects 1.5 million people worldwide and is characterised by the progressive loss of vision. Age-related macular degeneration is responsible for almost half of all legal blindness in Australia. It mainly affects people over the age of 65.

How will the bionic eye work?

Our bionic eye devices consist of a camera, attached to a pair of glasses, which captures the visual scene and transmits data to a microchip implanted at the back of the eye.

Electrodes attached to the microchip produce electrical impulses that stimulate the remaining functional cells in the retina. This information is carried to the brain via the optic nerve where it is interpreted by the visual processing centres of the brain as an image.

The different devices

Our teams are now developing three different devices.

  • A 44-channel device that will build on the technology developed with the early prototype but will be fully implantable – enabling tests to happen outside of the lab. The aim of this device will be to help people recover independent mobility.
  • The Wide-View device will have 98 electrodes to stimulate the nerve cells in the back of the eye. This device will assist people with profound vision loss see the contrast between light and dark shapes, identify large objects and obstacles and regain mobility and independence.
  • The High-Acuity device will first have 256, and then up to 1024 electrodes, to stimulate the retina. It will provide people with more detailed central vision, helping them recognise faces and even read large print. It will utilise wireless technology and diamond materials.

Testing the bionic eye

In 2012 patient tests began with an early 24-channel prototype bionic device successfully implanted in three people in Melbourne. Tests were very successful, with patients reporting perceiving spots or flashes of light in the visual field and using their device to negotiate obstacles. This study has now concluded. We have learnt an enormous amount and answered key questions for our research programs.

The next round of tests is with the fully implantable 44-channel device. We require further funding to progress beyond these tests and take these devices to the clinical trial and commercial development phase.

Research by experts

BVA brings together leading researchers and clinicians from diverse fields, many of whom were part of the bionic ear development.

Our experienced surgical team has developed a novel surgical procedure that is relatively short and non-invasive and we are developing devices that will be safe and effective for the lifetime of the patient. The High-Acuity device will use biocompatible diamond material for the electrodes and to encapsulate the implant. Wireless data and power transfer will also be an integral part of the design. Researchers are optimising the vision processing methods and stimulation strategies.

Funding

In late 2009, the Australian Research Council awarded BVA $42 million over four years. Research and development of the bionic eye continues in 2014 thanks to a grant extension of $8 million. Funding for tests of the 44-channel device has been provided by a grant of $1.2 million over three years from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). To further progress the technology to clinical trials and commercial application, however, further sources of government, philanthropic and/or venture capital funding are required.

The BVA consortium

BVA is a national consortium of researchers from the Bionics Institute, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, National ICT Australia, the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales.

The National Vision Research Institute, the University of Western Sydney and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital are project partners. Bionic Vision Australia is an initiative of the Australian Research Council.