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Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Visual System

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

Anatomy of the Eyeball

Anatomy of the Eyeball

The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle...

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.

The Retina

The Retina

The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.

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A Single-Channel and Non-Invasive Wearable Brain-Computer Interface for Industry and Healthcare

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[Modern concepts of bionic vision].

S V Kravchenko¹, S N Sakhnov^1,2, V V Myasnikova^1,2

¹Krasnodar branch of S.N. Fedorov National Medical Research Center «MNTK «Eye Microsurgery», Krasnodar, Russia.

Vestnik Oftalmologii

|July 8, 2022

Summary

Visual prostheses offer hope for vision loss when other treatments fail. This review explores bionic eye technologies, including retinal and cortical visual prostheses, for restoring sight.

Keywords:

ARGUS II artificial retina bionic eye bionic vision neural prostheses retinal prostheses visual prostheses

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Biomedical Engineering
Neuroscience

Background:

Vision loss presents significant medical and social challenges, impacting quality of life and independence.
Traditional treatments for vision impairment are often insufficient for severe cases.
Visual prostheses, or bionic eyes, represent a promising technological solution.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and analyze current approaches in the development of visual prosthetic systems.
To compare different anatomical targets for visual prosthesis stimulation.
To highlight the potential and limitations of emerging bionic eye technologies.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of scientific literature on visual prostheses.
Analysis of different stimulation strategies: retinal, optic nerve, and cortical.
Evaluation of the efficacy and applicability of existing visual prosthesis systems.

Main Results:

Retinal prostheses (e.g., ARGUS II) show success by stimulating remaining retinal neurons but are limited to photoreceptor diseases.
Optic nerve stimulation is another approach under investigation.
Cortical visual prostheses, though complex, offer universality by targeting the visual cortex and potential for detailed visual perception.

Conclusions:

Visual prostheses are crucial for restoring vision when conventional methods fail.
Cortical visual prostheses hold significant future potential due to their universality and capacity for advanced visual restoration.
Continued research in bionic eye technology is vital for addressing widespread vision impairment.