Neuralink: FDA approves launch of device capable of correcting poor vision

On Tuesday, September 17, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) granted specific authorization to a new Neuralink device, called a “breakthrough device.” In essence, this authorization gives Neuralink the opportunity to interact with various FDA experts in order to effectively address the evolution of the project prior to its commercialization. In this case, this authorization today concerns Neuralink Blindsight, a device whose goal is to offer vision to people who have lost it.

Blindsight Approved by FDA##

“Blindsight” by Neuralink builds on technologies that have been around for a while, the aim of which is to improve the vision of visually impaired people. To do this, a network of microelectrodes is integrated directly into the visual cortex and thus simulates the neurons found there. This is a good way to produce visual phenomena in people who would never have seen, and Neuralink is currently working on this technology.

Of course, it didn't take long for Elon Musk to put the cart before the horse: according to the billionaire, “Blindsight will allow those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves to see […] It will even be possible for people who have been blind since birth to see for the first time in their lives.“. Unfortunately, such a statement is completely premature at this point: the technology is still far from being perfected.

In reality, the FDA approval will allow for more testing and more intensive monitoring by the administration, but for now, there is no indication that Neuralink will be able to cure poor vision in a few years as Elon Musk seems to want us to believe. On the other hand, the technological advances enabled by the American company will certainly offer new interesting avenues to follow for the future.