A new Borg-like device straight out of Star Trek is a medical breakthrough that may, one day, restore sight to millions of people all over the world.

This medical marvel is taking place at the St. Louis University School of Medicine and is a procedure that will allow the blind to see without the need of eyes. What the blind will use to see is their brain and the device, which is attached to a pair of glasses sends a signal to a small computer attached at the waist. The computer will then digitize what the camera device on the glasses sees and stimulate electrodes attached through the skull. These electrical impulses are transferred into the brain and the brain interprets them as flashes, or splashes of light telling the person that something is before them.

Doctors feel that this is just the first baby steps toward a device similar to the one wore by Commander Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation with the real goal being an implanted device similar to what Steve Austin had in The Six Million Dollar Man. What was once felt to be the domain of science fiction has taken one step closer to reality.

For this early device to work there are three drawbacks. One, the person must undergo a surgical procedure to implant electrodes into their brain. Two, those born blind are not eligible for the procedure, also those who were not born blind but lost their site later must also have lost the use of both eyes or optic nerves. And thirdly, the cost may be very prohibitive for some, the minimum cost runs about $120,000 just for the procedure, not counting all followup costs.

Physicians and candidates are hopeful however that with more breakthroughs and advances in this artifical seeing eye technology the costs and eligibility factors will be brought down to a manageable level. In fact, downsizing of computer size is already in the works as well as the size of the electrodes and cabling needed today. The near future goal is to have a computer the size of a small cell phone.

As of now the participants in this research program who have received the implants are only able to see flashes of light. The goal is to one day increase the sensitivity of the device to be able to see acutal outlines and eventually, real images just as 20/20 sighted people see now.