• Bionic Eye Implant Update

patient with 'bionic second sight' eye glasses, with Dr. iezzi

It’s a video that's been seen around the world – the first time Allen Zderad sees his wife in more than a decade with the assist of a retinal prosthesis, or “bionic eye implant.” Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Raymond Iezzi, Jr.,M.D., talks about what the success of his patient's eye implant means to him as a physician, why this story resonates with people and how this technology is affecting Allen’s life. Dr. Iezzi says Allen is "like a kid in a candy store, experiencing his environment in ways he never has before."

Click here to find original video and background on this story. Stay tuned to the Mayo Clinic News Network for an update when reporter Dennis Douda and photographer Andy Shilts visit Allen at home to see how he's navigating life with his new eye.

Pronunciation key:
Dr. Iezzi:  eye-Eh’-zee
Allen Zderad:  zur-Ad’

Journalists: Soundbites with Dr. Iezzi are available in the downloads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svp7UBP2Zo0&feature=youtu.be