Star Trek-style bionic vision system to be tested on patients who have lost their sight

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A Star Trek-style bionic vision system is to be tested on up to 10 British patients who have lost their sight.

Regulators have granted permission for the trial to go ahead at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

The system uses a bio-inspired camera to stimulate a retinal implant and send image signals to the brain.

Credit: PA

Patients don dark goggles reminiscent of the eye-wear worn by blind Star Trek lieutenant commander Geordi La Forge.

Other trials of the system are taking place in France, Germany and Austria.

The British study will include patients suffering from the conditions retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, cone-rod dystrophy, and choroideremia, all of which can lead to blindness.