Geelong woman’s world-first: My ‘bionic eye’ hope for blind

MEET Dianne Ashworth, a first-order, world-first Geelong technological marvel.
Ms Ashworth has been blind since her 30s but with the help of a new bionic eye prototype is paving the way for up to 60 per cent of people with blindness to see again.
A lecturer and social worker at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus, she is taking part in a Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) program that has implanted a 24-electrode device behind her retina.
The device has effectively turned on the lights for the first time in decades.
Ms Ashworth lost her sight to an inherited condition called retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Royal Eye and Ear Hospital surgeons implanted her prototype bionic eye in July.
The device bypasses damaged retina cells to send electrical impulses to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain then identifies them as images.
Ms Ashworth was the first person in the world to receive the implant.
“It was an amazing a day I’ll never forget,’’ she told the Independent.
“The first flash was like a little black splinter. Then they put in different strength currents and I got flashes and sparkles and lines and white clouds – it was like a fireworks show.
“I love being the first one to get the eye. I didn’t know I’d be the first for this kind implant in the world – I just thought it was in Melbourne.’’
A team of more 150 researchers and medicos developed the device over six years.
BVA hopes to develop an eye with 1000 electrodes before taking it to the market.
Ms Ashworth was diagnosed with RP at 24. Her sight disappeared in a shrinking tunnel fashion over several years.
“I went into the whole research thing with the understanding it was research. I was rapt when it worked and especially for them because of all the work they put in.
“The next generation implant will have 98 electrodes. It will give people mobility; they’ll be able to see doorways and paths and the likes.’’
Ms Ashworth makes no secret of her desire to be part of that program. She’s still taking part in tests each and can’t wait for the next-generation bionic eye.
“I haven’t really spoken to them about but I’d love to do it.”