With bionic1) eye, subjects see light

Six blind or near－blind people can now see light and in some cases pick out shapes and recognize faces after having an artificial retina2) inserted into their eyes，says the co－inventor of the device．The findings show that the bionic eye may restore some sight for the blind and raise hopes for the estimated １０million Americans afflicted with blinding eye diseases．

Alan Chow，the ophthalmologist3) who helped invent the Artificial Silicon Retina，and his colleagues tucked the computer retinas into a slit they made in the eyes of six people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa4)，a rare progressive degeneration5) of the retina．Solar cells in the device's microchip are supposed to replace the function of the retina's light－sensing cells．Doctors followed the patients for up to ２１months，and preliminary evidence hints that the device is working：All six had substantial6) improvement in their vision，says Chow．Researchers reported no signs of infection in the patients．

Chow's company，Optobionics Corp．of Wheaton，Ill．，is developing the artificial retina and hopes to have it on the market within five years．

□by Kathleen Fackelmann

仿生学眼睛使患者重见光明

一种人造视网膜的合作发明者说，６位全盲或几乎全盲的患者在植入这种视网膜后看到了光线，有些人还分辨出了形状和面孔。这项研究成果表明，仿生学眼睛也许能使盲人恢复一定程度的视力，从而给大约１０００万患有盲眼病而影响视觉的美国人带来希望。

参与发明人造硅视网膜工作的眼科专家艾伦•周与他的同事在６名色素性视网膜炎患者的眼睛上做一个切口，然后把这种计算机视网膜植入切口。色素性视网膜炎是视网膜发生的罕见进行性病变。该装置微芯片里的太阳能电池是用来替代视网膜感光细胞的功能的。医生对这些患者进行了为期２１个月的跟踪研究。初步迹象表明人造视网膜发挥了作用。周说，所有６名患者的视力都有实质性的改进。研究人员目前还没有发现患者出现感染的迹象。

周所在的伊利诺伊州惠顿视力仿生学公司正在开发这种人造视网膜，希望在５年内将其投放市场。

NOTE 注释：

1. bionic adj. 仿生学的,利用仿生学的

2. retina n. [解]视网膜

3. ophthalmologist n. 眼科专家

4. retinitis pigmentosa n. 色素性视网膜炎

5. degeneration n. 恶化

6. substantial adj. 实质性的
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