Larry Hester and Paul Hahn, MD, prepare for the first test run with the new bionic eye. (Photo Credit: Shawn Rocco at Duke Medicine) People diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease are seeing a new future thanks to bionic eye technology. For decades, Larry Hester adjusted to life without vision after retinitis pigmentosa caused the photoreceptor cells in his eyes to gradually die off. But this week, Hesters sight was partially restored following surgery that transformed his eye into a bionic eye. Hes now the seventh person to undergo this FDA-approved procedure. Hester received the device in September, but he tested his bionic eye for the first time yesterday as captured in the video below: The device Hester uses to see is called the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis system, which the FDA approved for use in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa last year. The disease affects about 100,000 people in the United States, and roughly 10,000 individuals vision has deteriorated to a level that makes them eligible for the procedure. The device uses a camera thats mounted on a pair of Rec-Spec-like glasses, which feeds visual data to a processor clipped on a belt. The processor converts visual data into … Continue reading →

DURHAM, N.C. This heartwarming video shows the moment a North Carolina man blinded for 33 years sees again with a bionic eye. The New York Daily News reported that Larry Hester lost his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa. But a new electronic system can help him see shapes and light. Duke Medicineposted the touching video to YouTube earlier this week. The YouTube description reads: Larry Hester, 66, has been blind for half his life from a condition called retinitis pigmentosa. In September, 2014, an electronic stimulator was surgically implanted in his left eye. On October 1st, 2014 Duke eye surgeon Dr. Paul Hahn turned it on for the first time. While the device does not restore vision in the normal sense, it provides light-and-darkness differentiation. Hes the seventh person in the United States to receive the visual aid since the device, known as the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, was approved by the FDA. Duke is only the fourth center in the country to implant the device since approval. Learn more here: http://www.dukemedicine.org/blog/#!/n Read more:The New York Daily News Visit link: Video shows moment NC man blinded for 33 years sees again with bionic eye … Continue reading →