7 Healthcast: New glasses to help those with severe vision problems

UNDATED (WHDH) -- An Ottawa company is preparing to launch programmable intelligent eyeglasses.

These glasses are designed to transform the lives of people with severe vision problems.

Anne Lewis, in her early 30s, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a condition that’s left her with very little central vision. With the glasses, she’s able to see much more.

The glasses, known as Alivios Intelligent eyewear, have been developed over the past six years by ESight. There is a small camera in the center of the frame. The video signal is processed through a small computer then sent back to tiny monitors that provide the enhanced vision. The glasses have controls for contrast, zooming, and each pair is programmed for individual patients.

ESight plans to launch the glasses by the end of 2012 with full commercial production by 2014. It’s estimated that they will cost about $6,000 per pair.

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