Media Release 16 December 2009
Blind Reggie pins hopes on bionic eye
The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) welcomes the Federal Government’s multi-million dollar
commitment towards the development of an advanced bionic eye.
Professor Robyn Guymer is Head of Macular Research at CERA and the lead clinician-researcher
working with Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) – a consortium of world-leading researchers awarded $42
million for the project.
“The decision will give hope to millions of people world-wide who suffer from irreversible vision loss and
blindness,” Professor Guymer said.
The loveable winner of the 2003 Big Brother series, Regina Sorenson, known to many as ‘Reggie’ Bird,
is one of the many Australians who stand to benefit from the pioneering technology.
At just 35 Reggie is slowly losing her sight to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative disease that
causes sufferers to gradually lose their peripheral vision.
With only ten per cent vision, Reggie is legally blind.
As mother of two-year-old Mia and fifteen-week-old Lucas, Reggie said her biggest fear is not being able
to see her kids grow up.
“I want to see Mia on her first day of school and the boys she’ll eventually bring home to meet me,” she
said.
“I’m very excited by the bionic eye project. If my vision continues to deteriorate, it could change my life.”
Professor Guymer said the bionic eye will work by wirelessly transferring images from a small camera to
an electrode array on the retina at the back of the eye.
“Profound vision loss is largely caused by degeneration or death of the cells in the eye that receive light
signals. A bionic eye will help restore sight by effectively replacing the function of these cells.”
“Clarity and definition of vision will not be equal to normal sight, but the device will allow patients to move
around, detect large objects and, in time, read text and recognise some facial features.”
The bionic eye will benefit people with retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa.
CERA is a key clinical research partner in Bionic Vision Australia (BVA). CERA is affiliated with the
University of Melbourne and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, where it is located.
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Photos of Reggie and her family available on request. To arrange an interview with Reggie or Professor
Robyn Guymer contact:
Lauren Metcalfe
(BH) 03 9929 8424 (MOB) + 61 431 658 933
laurenem@unimelb.edu.au
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