Researchers in California have developed eye drops that can give three times better vision in the dark.
Science for the Masses (SftM) conducted the experiment that induced night vision temporarily. The researchers used a solution from Chlorin e6 (Ce6), which is normally found in several deep-sea fish. Ce6 has light-amplification properties and is also used in some cancer treatment research.
The researchers combined Ce6 with saline and insulin to produce the eye drops that can improve vision in low-light situations. Jeff Tibbets, the medical officer at SftM, points out that previous studies already aimed to use Ce6 in their research and wanted to try it in rats.
SftM researchers then started the experiment and gave 50 microliters of the solution to a human. The effect of the solution, they claimed, was relatively quick. Within an hour, the participant could distinguish between shapes from a distance of 10 meters, or about 33 feet, in the dark. The solution improved the vision of the participant even more over time.
The participant was asked to recognize people standing in the woods from a distance of about 50 meters, or 164 feet, in the dark. The participant was able to recognize them with a success rate of 100 percent. The success rate of people whose eyes were not treated with the eye drops was about 33 percent.
The effect of the solution lasted for a few hours, and the eyes of the test subject returned to normal the next day. No adverse effects were observed on the test subject 20 days following the experiment.
"[While] the idea of 'night vision eye drops' may seem interesting, this appears to be an unlicensed and unproven solution that has no medical approval," said Russell Peake, Eye Health Condition Manager at Boots Opticians.
The researchers of the study, as well as opticians, suggest that people should not use the solution at home as it may damage the eyes.
"The high risk of cellular toxicity from outside contaminants being absorbed through the skin make this chemical something that should only be handled with caution," stated SftM.
While the experiment was successful and has shown benefits for people, further testing is still needed to confirm the impact of the solution on human eyes, the researchers recommend.
Photo: Gordon Wrigley | Flickr
