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It won't restore sight completely, but allows sight-impaired individuals to detect light and dark. |
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這項發明無法完全恢復視力，但可讓視障人士分辨光亮與黑暗。 |
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On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a device created by Second Sight Medical Products that can be used to treat a rare type of blindness called retinitis pigmentosa. |
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美國食品藥物管理局在週四核准第二視力醫療產品公司生產的一具儀器，可用於治療稱作視網膜色素變性這種罕見的盲眼疾病。 |
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Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic eye condition in which cells of the retina, which are responsible for translating light rays into images in the brain, gradually deteriorate. |
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視網膜色素變性是一種遺傳性眼疾，會讓負責將光線轉譯為腦中影像的視網膜細胞逐漸退化。 |
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People with the condition start to lose peripheral vision first, and then find it harder to see at night until eventually their central vision is lost as well. |
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According to national statistics, about one in 4,000 people in the United States are affected by RP. |
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這種疾病的患者首先會開始喪失邊緣視野，接著覺得在夜間逐漸難以視物，最後連中央視覺也喪失。根據全國統計數據，美國約每四千人就有一人罹患視網膜色素變性。 |
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The artificial retina, called the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, is the first implantable device to treat the condition and is approved for people over age 25 with advanced RP who can see some light. |
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取名為「阿格斯第二代人工視網膜系統」的人造視網膜，是治療這種疾病的第一具可植入性儀器，現在已核准使用於二十五歲以上，患有嚴重視網膜色素變性但仍可見到些微光線的病患。 |
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The device consists of a panel of electrodes that are surgically implanted in the eye, and a pair of glasses with an attached camera. |
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The camera sends images to the electrodes, essentially bypassing the damaged retina and tapping into the optic nerve that signals the brain to "see" images. |
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這具儀器由一片電極構成，經由手術植入眼睛，再讓患者戴上一副裝有攝影機的眼鏡。攝影機將影像傳送給電極，本質上是跳過損壞的視網膜，直接輸入視神經，將信號傳送給大腦而「看見」影像。 |
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In the future, it may also be approved to treat other conditions such as macular degeneration, which causes loss of vision in the elderly and affects about 2 million Americans. |
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未來，這具儀器也可能核准用於治療其他病症，例如黃斑部病變，這種疾病會導致老年人喪失視力，約有兩百萬名美國人身受這種疾病所苦。 |
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Dr. Robert Greenberg, Second Sight's chief executive, told the New York Times that eventually, the company would like to implant the electrodes directly into the brain's cortex to treat blindness from all causes. |
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第二視力公司總裁羅伯•葛林伯格向《紐約時報》表示，該公司希望終究能夠將電極直接植入大腦皮質，以治療各種病因造成的眼盲。 |
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Some of the early patients testing the device said they could distinguish boundaries between objects and differentiate light from dark. |
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Some could read large letters, while for others, being able to match sock colors and detect street curbs was more important for helping them to live more independently. |
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有些試用了這具儀器的初期病患表示，他們能夠辨別不同物體之間的界線，也能辨別光亮與黑暗。有些人看得見大字。另外有些人則認為，能夠配對襪子顏色以及辨別街道邊緣，對於協助他們追求獨立生活而言更重要。 |
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