Innovations In Vision
The technology coming into existence to restore and enhance vision is astounding. I want to share just two incredible new inventions I have come across in the last few months that are aimed at this goal. While at first glance these technologies may not seem to contribute to improving movement, eyesight is incredibly important for optimizing performance and moving safely.
The first invention, “nanodrops”, comes out of Bar-Ilan University in Israel. The process required to utilize this technology is quite simple, involving only three steps. First, individuals would use a smartphone app to screen the eye and assess the adjustment required. Then, that individual would need to undergo a minor surgery to “stamp” an optical pattern onto the cornea’s surface using a small laser. Once this is done, the patient would then apply the nanodrops, which affect the outermost layer of cells of the cornea, changing the refractive index of the cornea to augment the focus of the light. In initial experiments, performed on pigs, the effects of the nanodrops lasted 2 hours, but additional experiments are set to assess the maximum duration of the effects. The researchers hope to have a product that is marketable to humans by the end of this year.1,2
The second invention, graphene retinas, aims to revolutionize the field of artificial retinas by using a material that is incredibly strong, while also flexible and light. Researchers at the University of Texas and Seoul National University have created an artificial retina from graphene and various materials that is not only biocompatible, but mimics the human retina better than any other material tested to date. The material is formed to conform to the size and shape of the retina. Once in place, the photodetectors contained within the material absorb light and pass it through a circuit board, which processes light, stimulates the retina, and acquires afferent signals from the visual cortex. This technology could help restore sight to the millions that suffer from diseases that affect the retina, such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and could have other valuable uses, such as amplifying brain and heart signals to make monitoring these vital organs easier.3,4
The World Health Organization reports that approximately 1.3 billion individuals suffer from vision impairment, making these technologies an especially relevant tool in one’s desire to maintain their eye health.5 Eye health is critical for both longevity and performance. In regards to longevity, a plethora of research shows that poor eyesight is correlated with falls.6 Since falls are the leading cause of accidental injury and death among older adults, it is critical to maintain optimal eye health well into old age. Regarding performance, optimal eyesight is also necessary for the maintenance of important parameters of performance, such as visual acuity (sharpness of vision) and contrast sensitivity (distinguish between object and the background).7
If you have eye problems, this upcoming technology could be part of the answer to restoring your sight. And if you have healthy eyes, there are many strategies that can be used to maintain it, including supplements (lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, beta-carotene) and many other strategies.8
References
- https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/New-eyedrops-could-repair-corneas-make-glasses-unneccessary-543344
- https://www.jpost.com/Jpost-Tech/Israeli-Nano-drops-bring-simple-eye-fix-into-view-549248
- https://futurism.com/the-byte/artificial-retinas-graphene
- https://phys.org/news/2018-08-artificial-retinas-based-d-materials.html
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
- Saftari LN & Kwon OS. Ageing vision and falls: a review. J Physiol Anthropol. 2018;27:11.
- https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-05-29/the-link-between-good-eyesight-and-sports-performance
- https://blog.bulletproof.com/6-easy-ways-to-improve-your-eyesight/