Bionic Eye Maker Second Sight Goes Under, Leaves Customers Blind

SECOND SIGHT, THE BIONIC EYE MAKER, GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, LEAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS BLIND

So I actually had no idea that anyone out there was already making bionic eyes. As in, technology allowing you to see. And the company Second Sight is going under, meaning no more bionic eyes, no more retinal implants, allowing people to see. But even more, it means that no more maintenance or repairs. And we’re not talking about casual hardware, where a re-power and reboot, check the cables are attached will accomplish a fix. And the situation will literally leave some people blind. Again. This situation has suddenly become apparent after Second Sight did a round of layoffs.

A BIONIC EYE OR IMPLANT ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST REPLACE CASUALLY, NEVER MIND FIX

So I’ve certainly been there myself when it comes to tech immediately becoming outdated from a company that made it going out of business (or selling out to another who halts production). While that’s certainly been my experience with certain computers and laptops over the years, I’m talking about the Pebble Watch. I was one of the first to ever buy one on Kickstarter. Now, they no longer exist and I had to find a replacement. But what about an eye from Second Sight? Or a device in your eye that allows you to see? We’re not talking about something you can just… swap out. We’re talking about medical intervention.

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SECOND SIGHT WILL NO LONGER REPAIR, MAINTAIN, OR EVEN SAFELY REMOVE DEAD HARDWARE

But for over 350 otherwise blind people around the world, that’s the situation they are about to be in. I’m sure they thought they were amazingly lucky to find a product that would allow them to see. But unfortunately, finding Second Sight was a short-lived miracle for these people. Now, a simple problem with their devices means it’s over. The lights are off, again. So far, there’s no word what options these people will have when their bionic eyes or other implants crap out. I can only imagine the anxiety they now feel.