Neuralink Unveils ‘Blindsight’ to Restore Vision for Blind, Secures FDA Approval

Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, Neuralink, has unveiled a new experimental device called Blindsight, aimed at restoring vision for the blind. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the device “breakthrough” status on September 17, placing it among the most advanced medical technologies designed to treat severe health conditions.

 

What is Neuralink’s Blindsight?

Blindsight is an innovative device designed to restore vision in people who have lost their sight, even in cases where both the eyes and optic nerve are damaged. Elon Musk highlighted on social media platform X that this technology could potentially enable individuals who have completely lost their sight, including their optic nerve, to regain vision.

The device operates by implanting a microelectrode array directly into the brain’s visual cortex. This array stimulates neurons based on input from an external camera that creates a visual image, allowing the brain to perceive sight.

While no timeline for human trials has been provided yet, the technology aims to offer a form of artificial vision for individuals who have been blind since birth, as well as those who have lost their sight later in life.

Although other vision-restoring technologies have been developed in the past for people with partial sight, Neuralink’s approach is unique. The company plans to use a larger number of electrodes in the implant, which may result in a clearer and more vivid vision for the user. However, it remains uncertain just how much sight Blindsight will be able to restore.