Who is Bionic Vision Australia?

Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) is a national consortium of researchers working together to develop bionic eye devices that can restore a sense of vision to people with vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. 


The research program contains a series of projects distributed across teams from: 

  • the Bionics Institute
  • the Centre for Eye Research Australia
  • NICTA
  • the University of Melbourne
  • 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. BVA is an initiative of the Australian Research Council.  

What are we doing?

BVA’s goal is to rapidly develop internationally competitive bionic vision implants that are clinically safe and effective in restoring sight, leading to successful commercialisation.

Researchers are working with three prototypes:

  • An early prototype device with 24 electrodes, implanted in three patients in Melbourne in 2012. This early study allows researchers to learn more about how the brain interprets visual information from electrical stimulation of the implant. Results from tests have been promising. A new, fully implantable version of the early prototype device is in development for another round of patient tests in 2014.
  • A Wide-View device with the goal of enabling patients to identify obstacles and navigate their environment safely, improving mobility and independence. This device comprises a retinal implant with 98 electrodes and uses established materials from other medical bionic implants, such as the bionic ear. 
  • A High-Acuity device with the goal of enabling patients to recognise faces and read large print. The first version of this device will have 256 electrodes with future versions containing over a thousand electrodes. The implant will utilise biocompatible diamond materials and wireless technology for power and data transfer.

What are the key challenges?

Key challenges for BVA include:

  • creating devices that are materially compatible with the body and safe for lifetime implantation
  • devising a robust radio-frequency communications link between the implant and the device’s external components
  • designing an appropriate way to wirelessly power the implant
  • developing algorithms to stimulate the remaining cells in the retina so that meaningful visual information can be passed to the brain
  • developing a safe and replicable surgical procedure.

Is anyone else working on a bionic eye?

Researchers are working on similar bionic eye projects in the USA, Germany and other countries. Although there are similarities across the devices, there are technical differences in how visual perception is achieved. 

Some groups have commenced patient tests with their technology, and one device is now commercially available in the USA and Europe. Despite this, there is still work to be done to ensure these devices are safe and effective over a prolonged period of time, and that they provide truly functional vision. BVA researchers are focusing on delivering a retinal implant that will be safe in the body over a patient’s lifetime and ensuring the implant provides functional vision in everyday activities. 

The Australian team includes researchers who were instrumental in developing the cochlear implant (bionic ear), which was commercialised by Cochlear Ltd and now has approximately 70 per cent of the world market. This track record provides the research team with an understanding of what is required to successfully bring a medical bionics device to the market.

Who will this help?

BVA is specifically targeting patients with profound vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. Retinitis pigmentosa is the leading cause of inherited blindness and affects 1.5 million people worldwide. Age-related macular degeneration is responsible for almost half of all legal blindness in Australia and usually affects people over the age of 65.

The technologies we are developing rely on patients having a healthy optic nerve and developed visual cortex and patients need to have been able to see in the past for these devices to benefit them.  

Where does the money come from?

Following the outcomes of the 2020 Summit in April 2008, the Australian Federal Government provided the Australian Research Council (ARC) with $50 million for a Special Research Initiative in Bionic Vision Science and Technology. 

Following a peer-reviewed competitive selection process, the ARC awarded BVA a grant of $42 million in late 2009. The grant was awarded for a four-year period, and thanks to a grant extension of $8 million from the Australian Research Council the research will continue in 2014.


To further progress the technology to clinical trials and commercial application, however, further sources of government, philanthropic and/or venture capital funding are required.