Bill Harvey: Virtually avoiding sight loss

This week you can read about how I got on with a virtual reality headset able to simulate vision through a variety of lenses either in the real world or a simulated ‘virtual’ world. I think we are just seeing the first of what will be many innovations in the use of such technology in eye care.

The brain is able to analyse electrical input from an external stimulus, combine and contrast with other incoming signals, interweave the signal pattern with existing networks representing previous experiences, and produce a perception or conscious awareness. Anything that can produce an incoming signal is able therefore to influence this perception.