Q: A recent AJC article mentioned a man who received a bionic eye implant. Do you have more information on the eye and how to get one?
—Richard Duren, Riverdale
A: Doctors at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center have performed all four surgeries to implant artificial retinas in the U.S. since the procedure was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year. Second Sight Medical Products makes the devices that include a video camera and transmitter in a pair of glasses. Images from the camera turn into electrical pulses that are sent to the surface of the retina, which sends the signal to the optic nerve. Those are transmitted to the brain. The device can help people with retinitis pigmentosa, which causes vision loss, but about only 7,500 of the 100,000 people with the disease are eligible for the surgery, The Associated Press reported. Contact the Kellogg Eye Center at (734) 763-8122 or kellogg.umich.edu for more information.
Q: Who is paying for Burrell Ellis’ legal defense team? And if the taxpayers are paying for it, how much has been spent?
—Bill Bright, Atlanta
A: Ellis, the suspended DeKalb County CEO, is funding his legal team, but state law allows him to use campaign funds for his defense and he continues to receive his annual salary of $153,000. The county's ethics board denied his request to set up a legal defense fund in February 2013. Ellis is scheduled to go to trial for felony public corruption charges in June and would be removed from office if found guilty.
Andy Johnston wrote this column; Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer April Hunt contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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