The Hindu : National : A bionic eye from the armed forces

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Friday, Nov 25, 2005

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A bionic eye from the armed forces

Dennis Marcus Mathew

Surgeon Vice-Admiral V.K. Singh — Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: The armed forces are not merely into protecting the nation. Its medical services wing is pioneering medical technologies.

The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), after establishing its expertise in cochlear implants with electronic or bionic ears (bio-electronic ear), is crafting a bionic eye. According to AFMS Director-General, Surgeon Vice-Admiral V.K. Singh, the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi is nearing success in the bionic eye project.

Vice-Admiral Singh said here that specialists were being trained to create a bionic eye in two years. Coordination of the individual's ophthalmic nerves with the e-eye is yet to be perfected. "As of now, just like bionic eyes made in other countries, an individual with our bionic eye is able to make out only light or an image, not distinguish a person or an object. Though that itself is a major step forward for a person without eyesight at all, our aim is to make it as good as a normal human eye. That should be done in two years," he said.

The AFMS' expertise in cochlear implants is advancing too. In association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) it is preparing indigenously an e-ear.

Vice-Admiral Singh's teams are also trying to learn how human beings can be enabled to live under water. The AFMS Marine Research Centre in Mumbai is conducting research-oriented diving exercises, the results of which can be useful for marine warfare, underwater cultivation and so on.

"Our aim is to realise the idea of human survival under water. For this, we are learning aspects of handling immense pressure under water, breathing techniques and others. The High Altitude Medical Research Centre at Leh and the Aviation Research Centre in Bangalore are also into similar projects," he said.

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