CrowdScience: Could Bionic Eyes Help Me See Again?

Mohammed is from India and he’s blind. He emailed CrowdScience because he wondered about new technologies that could help him see again - what is artificial vision and what does it look like?

Bobbie Lakhera travels to Germany to meet a patient who’s about to undergo surgery. A chip will be implanted into his eye in the hope of restoring some sight.

She also hears from the doctor who has, for the first time earlier this year, successfully attached prosthesis to the visual cortex of the brain. Using a camera that transmits information to the brain prosthesis, it has enabled a handful of blind patients to see sunlight again. These technologies are not available everywhere, though.

Bobbie meets the world-famous blind echo-locator, Daniel Kish, to understand how he sonifies his environment to help him visualise the world around him. Could his skill be taught to others?

• Presenter: Bobbie Lakhera
• Producer: Graihagh Jackson for BBC World Service

Publicity contact: EM3