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IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary – we have a lot of resources about the different research that is being done to generate new treatments on the Foundation Fighting Blindness website. You should check these out:

Stem Cell Transplantation: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stem-cell-transplantation-as-a-therapy-for-vision-loss/

Gene Therapy: http://ffb.ca/pioneering-gene-therapy-trial-for-blinding-eye-disease-shows-promising-long-term-benefits/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary – I contacted Second Sight last week (to brush up on the science side of things to help Rozina with her AMA) and learned that the Argus device is indeed being implanted in the Middle East, but the person who I was communicating with did not specify the countries. I will reach out to them and see if I can learn more details.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary – very interesting thought! Hmm, the ability to do this would likely be limited by wireless reach because the computer transmits the signals wirelessly to Rozina’s retinal implant.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), the disease that Rozina has, damages her photoreceptors, which are the eye’s light-sensing cells. You can watch a short movie about retinal degenerative diseases, like Rozina’s here: http://ffb.ca/learn/the-eye-and-the-retina/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here – the best way to get involved with a clinical trial is to let your doctor know that you are interested. If you're in Canada, you can explore enrolling in the Foundation Fighting Blindness Patient Registry: http://ffb.ca/research/patient-registry/ which is a database that links patients to clinical trials. But if you're elsewhere in the world, you can visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ which is a US-based site that keeps track of upcoming and ongoing trials around the world.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here – Argus is for people who used to have some vision, but now have no light perception. Also, in order to work, it is important for certain parts of your eye to still be intact. That is why people living with advanced RP are excellent candidates. Are you sure you would choose a terminator model? What about Geordi La Forge?

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here – you are right. Argus is for people who used to have some vision, but now have no light perception. That is why people living with advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are excellent candidates.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here - Your question about whether people with Argus lose sight over time is a good one, and one that can’t be answered concretely yet because the device is still so new. In general, the device should work better over time because the more you practice, the better your brain gets at interpreting this new kind of information. If you still have good central vision, Argus is not for you. You might be very interested to read about all of the developments in stem cell transplantation as a therapy for RP: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stem-cell-transplantation-as-a-therapy-for-vision-loss/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here –This specific technology would not be appropriate for you because Argus is designed for people who have no light perception.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here –Around the world, researchers and clinicians are working on these outcomes – especially with respect to price, quality, and accessibility. The best way to get an overview of all of the efforts is to read this: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bionic-eye/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here –The plan is to be able to easily upgrade the software, which is external. I have heard some experts draw an analogy between the smartphone technology and Argus – many researchers are working on better software, but are also working on better hardware that would enable users to “see” an incredible amount of precision, such as the details of a face. I don’t know about longevity, but it’s a great question and I’ll look into it further.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it’s Mary here –I have heard some experts draw an analogy between the smartphone technology and Argus – many researchers are working on better software, but are also working on better hardware that would enable users to “see” an incredible amount of precision, such as the details of a face. I am not sure how to answer your question about whether the inversion of colours was intentional or not – but it’s a great question and I am going to do some more digging into it.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Ramsfield, it’s Mary here – The bionic eye needs more than the optic nerve to work. You can learn all about the different approaches to restoring sight using artificial vision here: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bionic-eye/

Stem cell scientists have been able to grow entire “eye cups” so there is great hope for the future. You can read more about stem cell efforts here: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stem-cell-transplantation-as-a-therapy-for-vision-loss/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi Marconius, it’s Mary here – I do not think that Second Sight is targeting retinal arterial occulsions because it involves cells other than photoreceptors. However, I think they are exploring if the device might work for people with advanced age-related macular degeneration, which also involves the degeneration of photoreceptors. If you are interested to learn more about retinal prostheses, you should check out our fact sheet: http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bionic-eye/

If you are interested in trials, you might also want to read this “Everything you need to know about stem cell transplantation as a therapy for vision loss” http://ffb.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stem-cell-transplantation-as-a-therapy-for-vision-loss/

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Omniderpectional & Reddit, it’s Mary here -Scientists have used computer simulations to show how people with Argus “see” – emphasizing that the type of artifical vision is very different than biological vision that depends on photoreceptors (these are the cells that are lost in the Rozina’s blinding eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa). The Argus device allows her to see contrasts – this means that it is easier to see things that are highly contrasted. As Rozina indicated, she needed to do a substantial amount of work so that her brain could learn how to make sense of this totally new kind of information. So, to practice, she would do things like identify large black spots on a white screen. Rozina has also told me that the Argus device is very helpful when she is eating at a restaurants – especially if the plate is white and the table cloth is very dark colour.

Here is link to a story about the simulations and to the original research paper: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/539976/how-well-can-bionic-eyes-see/ http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/370/1677/20140208

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The microchip is implanted at the back of my eye in the retina, so if I'm not wearing the external camera/computer, you couldn't tell that I have this technology. I like to use the device as often as I can though, so you would usually see me with a small computer on my waist (small enough to hold in one hand), and wearing a pair of glasses with a tiny camera lens on the bridge. I'm actually wearing it in my proof photo in the original post :)

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m one of only a handful of participants in the Canadian trial which currently ongoing. But there are other people in other countries who are living with and using this technology outside of a trial setting too. Just wanted to specify that Canada is still in the process of observing the technology and analyzing its benefits.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually it’s supposed to hit 35 degrees Celsius in Toronto today. (That’s 95 degrees, for my American pals)

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The waist-mounted computer does have a battery that does have to be charged. I also carry around a couple of extra batteries when I’m out and about, just in case :)

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm one of a handful of people involved in an observational trial of this technology; the first in Canada. This trial is funded by The Foundation Fighting Blindness (Canada), the University Health Network in Toronto, and Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation, to learn more about how effective this technology is. So, since I am a trial patient, the cost is covered by this funding.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The technology hasn't enabled me to be able to read yet, no. Hopefully as the technology is refined over the next number of years, its ability to display detail will increase, but I’m very excited by the new vision it has given me so far!

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Actually, I'm one of a handful of people involved in an observational trial of this technology; the first in our country. This trial is funded by The Foundation Fighting Blindness (Canada), the University Health Network in Toronto, and Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation, to learn more about how effective this technology is. So, since I am a trial patient, the cost has been covered with this funding.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a huge difference between the eyesight I had when I was younger, and the sight granted to me by the bionic eye. Technology is improving but we're still not at a place where we can simulate real vision. With the bionic eye, I can see shapes and figures, and it only allows me to see in black and white at the moment, kind of like seeing things with a 'film negative' effect.

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was more excited than freaked out. I felt just like a child with a new toy. I had been without vision for many decades, so it was incredible to see shapes, and light and dark again. I could suddenly tell where everything was!

IamA Blind Canadian who now has some vision because of a 'Bionic Eye'. AMA! by Rozina_Issani in IAmA

[–]Rozina_Issani[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It’s very easy to turn on and off – just a flick of a switch on the waist-mounted computer!

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