Mojo Device for Macular Degeneration

There is a new breakthrough in medical technology for macular degeneration. It is the winner of the 2021 Last Gadget Standing competition, but it is far from a simple gadget. This device promises to be highly beneficial for someone suffering with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It gives much needed mojo to compromised eyes, hence its unique name, The Mojo Lens.

Elevated Vision

A few years ago, Google unveiled its Google Glasses aka Google Glass or just Glass. It enabled users to be able to essentially look through eyeglasses with an internet connected screen that not only increased vision capability but included a whole host of artificial intelligence options via simple voice activation. It was the next step into the sci-fi-esque digital world of being plugged-in, hands-free. Although it didn’t takeoff into the mainstream as expected (kind of how the Apple watch is still trying), Glass is still available and may be as ubiquitous as smart phones in the not too distant future. Until then, this technology will continue to advance on many platforms (not just Google) which includes medical applications for those suffering with macular degeneration. 

Known as ‘elevated vision’ The Mojo Lens is the first successful visual prosthesis that can assist in enabling new frontiers for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) assistance. It makes simple eyeglass lenses look like a thing of the past. Although there is no cure for the 11+ million Americans suffering with AMD, there is hope in being able to navigate compromised vision much more successfully than ever before offering a sense of independence and integrity.  

Mojo Augmentation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the continued buzz term for the future of our communication, transportation, and so much more. It is technology that will continue to immerse us in the world of digital tethering. However, the other term that you may hear about is, augmented reality (AR). This is a cross between artificial intelligence and hologram imaging enabling the user to gently enter a visually enhanced reality for the benefit of magnified navigation, real time information, and so much more. It is essentially a ‘baby step’ into a future that may result in a cyborg manipulation of human capability. 

The Mojo Lens is an augmented reality device that is the size of a common contact lens which can be placed in the eye just as easily. Once inserted it immediately begins changing vision as we know it. Similar to a science fiction movie character able to navigate through data driven vision, the Mojo Lens simulates this capability right from the start. From distance measurements to weather changes to lighting up dark spaces, central and peripheral vision, this lens brings hope to the difficult world of AMD. 

In a study of AR by researchers at the Department of Computer Science, and Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire and School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom which was published in Optometry and Vision Science, it was concluded that,

“Consumer AR devices may soon be able to support applications that improve the functional vision of users for some tasks. In our study, both artificially impaired participants and participants with near-complete vision loss performed tasks that they could not do without the AR system.”

NASA winner

In addition to winning the Last Gadget Standing 2021 competition, Mojo Vision was also named as one of three winners of the NASA iTech 2020 Cycle I. As the Mojo Lens promises to enhance vision for those struggling with AMD it was also found to be a technology to increase vision for space explorers. Mojo describes the technology,

“The technology overlays images, symbols and text on users’ natural field of vision without obstructing their view or restricting mobility. Mojo calls the eyes-up, hands-free experience Invisible Computing. By enabling users to focus on the task in front of them and not on distracting devices, the technology could be a critical resource in addressing challenges for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.”

Coming Soon

There have been several attempts at creating contact lenses able to transfer information to the user but none have held up to the technology of Mojo Vision.The lens will communicate with a smartphone or watch-like unit for external control and will be able to be recharged just like any electronic device you use today. 

Tech blogger Skarred Ghost describes the insides of the Mojo Lens after encountering its popularity at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2020,

• They are custom-built for his eyes. The lenses have to be tailored to the eyes of the specific user, so they adhere perfectly to the surface of his/her eyes and don’t move. This, of course, creates a great comfort sensation and also more precision in the augmentations, because they can be projected directly into the fovea of the user
• They don’t sit on the cornea, that is full of nerve endings, but on the white of the eyes, that is far less sensitive to the presence of external elements
• Includes a micro-displayto let the user see the augmentations
• There is an image sensor for seeing the surroundings and processes them through computer vision (e.g. edge detection)
• Includes eye-tracking sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer)
• Runs on a micro battery directly installed within the lens
• Has a 5Ghz radio communication antenna to make the lens communicate with an external unit
• Includes an ARM0 processor that acts as a “traffic cop” for the data

The best part of this technology is that it could be available very soon pending FDA approval, which is expected. Once approved it will be rolled out first for those with vision impairment, primarily macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. After this initial phase in will then be implemented into the hospitality, logistics, military, and public safety sectors. In time, the Mojo Lens and other similar technology may be an option for those with healthy eyes giving a visual advantage that goes way beyond natural sight.   

If you are struggling with AMD, aside from a cure, there is no better time to be able to take advantage of this rapidly growing visual technology. Soon, your independence will be catapulted tenfold allowing you to enjoy vision that takes you well into the future using this mojo device for macular degeneration.  

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29877901/

https://www.mojo.vision/news/mojo-vision-named-winner-in-nasa-itech-2020-cycle-i

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