For people blinded by retinal disease or long-term retinal detachment, a device that would allow them to see light—not necessarily patterns or objects, just light—would be a godsend. Pediatric ophthalmologist Alan Chow hopes to bring them light and more with the "Artificial Silicon Retina," an implantable silicon device he designed with his brother, electrical engineer Vincent Chow.
Their company, Optobionics Corp. , is developing devices based on microphotodiodes (approximately 3mm x .25mm in size) that are...