Artificial Retina Made of Tattoo Pigment

May-04-18 An artificial retina able to convert light to electrical signal could help restore sight in some people.

Developed by an international team of researchers, the prototype retina is made up of an extremely thin film of photoactive material held inside a metal ring. The material, which is a hundred times thinner than a neuron, consists of a gold sheet embedded with microscopic pixels made of an inexpensive pigment used in tattoo ink and cosmetics. When light hits the film, the nanocrystals within it turn the light into electrical signals that simulate the retinal action.

The team believes the prototype implant could eventually be used to restore sight in patients whose retinas have lost their sensitivity to light.

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