The advance is seen as a real breakthrough

The advance is seen as a real breakthrough German doctors have reported the production of advanced electronic retinal implants to restore sight to the blind. Three patients fitted with the devices, sometimes called Artificial Retina, were able to recognize shapes and objects. One of them was able to travel alone in a room, read the position of the hands of a clock, recognize letters and use them to form words and even distinguish seven shades of gray.

The advance is seen as a real breakthrough that could eventually completely transform the lives of 200,000 people worldwide who had become blind due to hereditary degeneration of the retina called retinitis pigmentosa, experts say.

The retina contains photoreceptor cells which absorb light and then transform it Importance into an electrical signal transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. The implant is designed to replace the eye cells (rods and cones) gradually destroyed in retinitis pigmentosa.