Bionic Eyes Give Sheep Sight, Heading to Humans Next

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The Bionic Eye Experiment

The BBC reports that a team of Australian researchers has given a small flock of sheep “exceptionally sharp eyesight”—at least for sheep—by surgically implanting bionic eyes behind their retinas. The goal of this woolly trial was to verify that the implants would not trigger unwanted side effects.

Researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales have now submitted the necessary paperwork to begin human trials, marking an important step toward the kind of bionic vision once imagined in Star Trek through the character Geordi La Forge.

“There were no unexpected reactions from the tissue around the device, and we expect it could remain in place for many years,” University of Sydney biomedical engineer Samuel Eggenberger told the BBC.

How Phoenix 99 Works

The device, called Phoenix 99, wirelessly transmits a live camera feed from a miniature camera mounted on a pair of sunglasses. It converts the video into electrical signals that are delivered straight to the wearer’s retina; the optic nerve then processes these signals and forwards them to the brain.

Market Outlook and Competing Projects

Experts anticipate that bionic-eye systems such as Phoenix 99 could become widely available within a few years. A 2026 market research report highlighted by the BBC estimates the global industry could exceed $400 million by 2028.

Several other organizations are developing comparable technologies. Second Sight and the Australia-based Monash Vision Group are among the active players, while France’s Pixium Vision is already conducting human tests of its retinal implant.

Current Limitations and Future Potential

At present, these systems remain costly—some priced above $100,000—and the vision they provide is still limited. “I have no doubt that the technology has transformed the lives of patients who have been lucky enough to receive these implants,” New Jersey ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo told the BBC. “Currently, however, the technology is limited, only allowing for the perception of light and shadows, and, to some extent, shapes.”

Nevertheless, ongoing advances by multiple companies suggest that more capable solutions for restoring sight to the visually impaired are on the horizon.

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