Bionic spectacles

Scientists at Oxford University have applied smartphone technology to invent 'bionic' glasses for people with poor vision. A group led by Dr Stephen Hicks in the university's Department of Clinical Neurology has developed prototypes using video cameras, position detectors, face recognition and tracking software.

Costing around £500, the glasses could soon help patients with age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. They work by sending information from frame-mounted cameras to a smartphone-like device, which then drives an LED display for the patient. Researchers have funding from the National Institute of Health Research for a year-long feasibility study and are planning home trials with potential patients.