The Most Important Scientific Discoveries Of 2015

Published December 27, 2015

4. New bionic eye lens surgery could give everyone better than 20/20 vision in 8 minutes.

Scientific Discoveries 2015 Bionic Eye

Image Source: Flickr

Some tout it as “super-human” vision: the ability to see at three times the previously considered perfect 20/20. This will likely be possible in the very near future, thanks to Dr. Garth Webb, an optometrist in British Columbia whose own faulty vision inspired him to create the bionic lens.

In a surgery that would take roughly eight minutes, the new custom-made, personalized lens would be painlessly attached to the eye, and immediately provide better than perfect vision for the rest of the wearer’s life — making glasses, contacts, and even cataracts a thing of the past. That is, if you are over 25 years old; it’s at that age when the human eye stops developing and you become eligible for the surgery.

author
Erin Kelly
author
An All That's Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and she's designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.