Connect with us

Headlines

New Technology Could Help the Legally Blind to See

The glasses work by capturing images with a small camera, enhancing them, and then projecting them onto screens in front of each eye in real-time.

mm

Published

on

TUCSON, AZ – Technology being developed at the University of Arizona could help those who are legally blind or who have impaired eyesight to see.

Hong Hua, professor of optical sciences at the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, has become highly recognized for her research in innovative 3D display technologies, complex visualization systems and novel image acquisition systems. Working with graduate student Jason Kuhn, the team developed technology that has enabled the creation of the latest generation of near-eye optics, according to a press release from the university.

Eyecare Shenanigans: 2023’s Top Optometry Articles in Invision Magazine
Eyecare Shenanigans

Eyecare Shenanigans: 2023’s Top Optometry Articles in Invision Magazine

Bringing Independent ECPs Into the 21st Century With the Technology Solutions a Modern Eyecare Business Needs
INVISION Podcast

Bringing Independent ECPs Into the 21st Century With the Technology Solutions a Modern Eyecare Business Needs

The Making of Bespoke Eyewear, An Acetate Kitchen and Collecting Famous People’s Heads
INVISION Podcast

The Making of Bespoke Eyewear, An Acetate Kitchen and Collecting Famous People’s Heads

Specifically, Hua and Kuhn developed a wedge-shaped prism eyepiece design with free-form surfaces that provide both high resolution and a large exit pupil – a combination and level of image quality that has not been previously achieved.

In optics, the exit pupil of an eyepiece is a virtual aperture through which light exits a system and projects into a viewer’s eye. Imagine holding a pair of binoculars about ten inches in front of your eyes; the small circle of light you see in each lens is the exit pupil.

In developing a way to deliver a larger exit pupil and wider field of view in a near-eye system, the UA invention provides a larger image and thus more visual data to the brain.

“This is where we see the real-world impact of the leading research being done at the UA,” said TLA Director of Licensing Rakhi Gibbons. “We’re so proud of Dr. Hua and her work, and of the UA’s commitment to contributing to improving lives.”

Advertisement

Working with Tech Launch Arizona, the office of the UA that commercializes inventions stemming from research, the university patented the technologies and licensed them to eSight Corp., a company that has integrated the inventions into new electronic glasses that deliver the ultimate combination of image quality, field of view, size, weight and cost.

“When I originally met with the eSight team, I was intrigued by the broad social impact of the project,” Hua said. “They said they were developing a system to help low vision people, and the more I listened to them, the more I thought they were doing something really useful and helpful, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

The end product – eSight 3 – allows individuals with low vision to see, permitting the legally blind to be mobile, thrive at work, study independently and engage in virtually all activities of daily life. The glasses work by capturing images with a small camera, enhancing them, and then projecting them onto screens in front of each eye in real-time, providing more visual data to the brain and triggering an increased reaction from the eye. The glasses also allow users to adjust zoom, focus, contrast and color.

According to eSight Chief Technology Officer Charles Lim, the partnership with Hua and the UA has helped the company be an innovative leader.

He said, “The IP we worked on with the University of Arizona has been critical in allowing us to develop our proprietary best in class near-eye optics that have allowed eSight to deliver the best combination of image quality, field of view, size, weight and cost to help position us as leaders in this space.”

According to the company’s website, the glasses restore sight for a majority of individuals with low vision, helping people with macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataracts, retinopathy and other conditions.

Advertisement

Watch a video about the technology:

SPONSORED VIDEO

Meet the Next Generation of Smart Glasses

Ray-Ban Meta is now available with a full range of lenses, as a complete pair or edged lens. Prescription orders eligible through select insurance providers, including Eyemed and private pay. The Ray-Ban Meta collection combines iconic design with cutting-edge technology. Capture life’s best moments and livestream to Facebook and Instagram with an upgraded 12 MP camera and five-mic system. Stay connected with hands-free calls and messages. Listen to your favorite tracks through built-in speakers. Spark your creativity, get information and control your glasses with your voice – powered by Meta AI. All while keeping your phone in your pocket. For more information, visit here.

Promoted Headlines

Most Popular