Neuralink’s Blindsight may soon restore peoples’ eyesight

Elon Musk’s Neuralink announced his Blindsight project received the “Breakthrough Device” designation from the US Food and Drug Administration.

It is a brain-computer interface or implant that will allegedly enable the blind to see again, even those with zero vision since birth. 

READ: Neuralink raises ethical concerns among scientists

Interesting Engineering says similar technologies have long been supporting partially-sighted persons. However, Neuralink differs by adding more electrodes to boost visual acuity theoretically.

How does the Blindsight work?

Elon Musk says Blindsight works by bypassing damaged optic nerves and directly stimulating the visual cortex with microelectrodes. 

The visual cortex is the brain area responsible for processing visual information. The tech billionaire compared its early-stage vision quality to video game graphics from the Atari console. 

In March 2024, the CEO stated that his company had tested the brain control interface on monkeys successfully. 

The FDA Breakthrough Device designation is a voluntary program for medical devices that provide more effective treatment or diagnosis of severe health conditions. 

His X post or tweet above claims Blindsight “will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see.” 

The designation may help Musk conduct human trials for the device to further improve it. However, he has yet to develop it into an effective cure for blindness. 

University of Washington Psychology Professors Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton shared their skepticism with Blindsight on The Conversation. 

They stated Musk’s claim that the brain’s neurons are akin to on-screen pixels is a “fallacy.”

Nevertheless, Blindsight is Neuralink’s latest attempt to push the boundaries of science and technology. 

Its first implant was a success, allowing research participant Noland Arbaugh to play chess with his mind.

Learn more about it in this Inquirer Tech article.