THE World Health Organisation estimates that 285 million people are currently living with impaired vision: that’s more than the entire population of France, Germany and the UK put together.

Some leading conditions such as glaucoma and age-related degeneration are currently incurable; but as science and technology continues to advance, we edge closer to a future in which these conditions are more treatable and potentially curable.

But to understand the challenge scientists have on their hands, we first have to appreciate how complicated the human eye truly is. When we look at something, light enters the eye through the pupil, is focussed by the lens, and then hits the retina. Located at the back of the eye, the retina contains millions of light-sensitive neurons called photoreceptors. These receptors transform light signals into electrical signals, which are then sent to the brain, allowing us to see what’s in front of us.

However this intricate process can sometimes go wrong, and that’s where Oxford University researchers come in. Oxford is a centre for cutting-edge research into treatments for incurable eye disease. From gene therapy and artificial implants, to advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques, the university is at the forefront of research into some of the most challenging conditions out there.

In the UK, the most common cause of both sight loss and blindness is age-related macular degeneration. This condition occurs when part of the retina, known as the macula, becomes damaged over time.

The macula is essential for focussing light, and it contains vast numbers of photoreceptors which are responsible for sending electrical signals to the brain. As the condition develops, macular tissue and photoreceptors die off, leading to blank spots in a patient’s vision.

This condition affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, and as the population ages, numbers are expected to rise. There is no cure for macular degeneration, but research is underway to find pioneering solutions to the problem.

Artificial retinas are a growing area of clinical research, which looks to replace damaged retinas with bionic, synthetic implants. Artificial retinas mimic the natural processes that take place in the eye, using electrical currents to trigger stimulation of photoreceptors in the retina. This artificial stimulation doesn’t restore full sight, but it does enable patients to see slightly more of the world around them.

Whilst these synthetic implants have been tested in human patients, more research is likely needed before we see them deployed on a global scale. Because artificial retinas are often made of hard, metallic materials, they can be inflexible and invasive, and so they sometimes come with a risk of side effects, such as scarring or inflammation.

But chemical biology researchers at Oxford may have found a potential solution. Using soft water droplets and biological cell membrane proteins, scientists have recently grown a synthetic retina from natural biodegradable materials.

This soft, water-based implant more closely resembles natural human bodily tissues, and therefore should be much more friendly to the eye environment than metallic devices. The Oxford retina has currently only been tested under laboratory conditions, so the next step will be to further explore the implant’s capabilities with a view to trialling it in animals and, if successful, humans.

Impaired vision can be a life-changing condition, but research is helping us to better address the problem. There’s still some way to go before bionic eye surgery can become a standard procedure, but thanks to the inspiring work of scientists, there is every reason to hope for a brighter future.