There are many reasons as to why people go blind. For example, blindness can occur because the lens of the eye became cloudy, which prevents light from entering the eye, or because the retina got degraded and deteriorated, which affects the perception of images (1). Another cause of blindness could be caused by a change in eye shape, which alters the projection of an image, or because of damage to the optic nerve, which disrupts the flow of visual information to the brain (1).  Blindness can also occur because of an eye injury or trauma (1). However, the leading cause of blindness in the United States is caused by eye diseases (1).

Because technology has advanced so much in the past few years, people with failing vision can now get a corneal transplant. However, now there is an even better solution to improving eye vision. The University of Tuebingen in Germany has developed a chip that can be implemented into the eye which transforms images into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain, which allows the person to see (2). The clinical trials for the chip implant were done on people who suffered from retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition that destroys the retina (2). The results showed that out of the eleven people who received the surgery, five were able to see or distinguish objects (2).

Although this new chip implant discovery does not work a hundred percent, I believe it is only the beginning. With this new discovery, people who have suffered from blindness can now have the hope that they will be able to see once again. This new discovery will not only provide hope to the family of the victim, but it will also give the victim confidence and raise his or her self- esteem.  He or she will once again be able to live his or her life however he or she wishes. Furthermore, with technology improving every day, I am sure one day people will not have to suffer from blindness anymore.

1.)    Thompson, Dennis. “What Causes Blindness? .” EverydayHealth.com. (2010): n. page.      Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

2.)    Bukowski, Jack . “Let There Be Light: New Technology Enables Some Blind Patients to   See .” InsidersHealth.com. (2011): n. page. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.