RAZOR: The hope of artificial vision for those with total sight loss

Blindness and severe vision impairment are projected to double in the global population by 2050—a sobering statistic that underscores the urgent need for innovation. For the estimated 40 million people worldwide who are blind, and the additional 250 million with significant visual impairment, this disability presents profound daily challenges.

Inspired by the transformative success of cochlear implants for deaf patients, a team of neuroscientists at Miguel Hernández University in Elche, Spain, is pushing the boundaries of medical science. They have developed a groundbreaking visual neuroprosthesis that interfaces directly with the brain's visual cortex, bypassing the eyes entirely. In essence, they are pioneering a form of artificial vision.

RAZOR's Gabrielle Lawrence travels to Elche to meet the visionary team behind this technology and speak with some of the remarkable individuals helping to test and refine the implant.

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Designed to restore a limited but functional sense of sight, the neuroprosthesis offers new hope to profoundly blind patients. Unlike conventional approaches that focus on repairing the eye, this device implants electrodes directly into the brain, allowing patients to perceive visual patterns and shapes.

Gabrielle Lawrence meets lead scientist Professor Eduardo Fernández, who explains the science behind the project, and hears firsthand from participants in the clinical trials – individuals who are experiencing visual sensations for the first time in years, or even decades.

Their stories reveal not only the potential of this emerging technology but also the emotional and psychological impact of regaining even a fragment of sight. The project marks a major milestone in the journey toward restoring vision – and dignity – for millions.