Patients with retinal disease may one day have their colour vision restored with tiny solar panels inserted at the back of the eye.
It’s hoped the research project, which used high-performance organic semiconductors, can be used to design an artificial retina. The project was published in a PhD thesis by Dr Leslie Askew from the University of Surry.1 With millions of people worldwide affected by retinal dystrophies leading to vision loss, Dr Askew believes that “an artificial retina offers a technological treatment that complements existing genetic therapies”.
“Just like solar panels convert light to electricity, our flexible device sits at the back of the eye, converting light to electrical signals carrying colour information through the optical nerve,”she explained.
“Previously, this has only ever been achieved in blackand-white vision – so to be able to restore colour vision is really exciting.
“We are using thiophene-based materials paired with acceptor molecules to improve the output signal to a point where cells in the middle of the retinal layers can be stimulated successfully,” she said.
Dr Maxim Shkunov, PhD supervisor and Senior Lecturer at the university, said the miniature solar panels can be printed “like you might print paper”.
“Not only is that much cheaper and possibly more accessible, but the array of panels can then be rolled up. They will fit comfortably in the back of the eye, eventually providing a larger field of vision,” he said.
The findings are patent pending.
Reference
Askew, L. An Organic Approach to Full-Colour Vision Restoration: Using conjugated semiconductors for an improved artificial retina. Doctoral Thesis, University of Surry. 21/12/2023. DOI: org/10.15126/thesis.900926
