This is a huge breakthrough in the development of human-like prosthetics. Current prosthetic eyes do not provide much clarity. They usually require special sunglasses and a group of external wires to produce a 2D image that's of poor quality. Development of the technology was led by scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

"I have always been a big fan of science fiction, and I believe many technologies featured in stories such as those of intergalactic travel, will one day become reality. However, regardless of image resolution, angle of views or user-friendliness, the current bionic eyes are still of no match to their natural human counterpart," says professor Fan Zhiyong, of the university's Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, in a media release. "A new technology to address these problems is in urgent need, and it gives me a strong motivation to start this unconventional project."

Fan spent nine years working on the project.

Not only does the new prosthetic resemble a human eyeball, it provides clearer images than one. Dubbed the "Electrochemical Eye," it will even be capable of performing superhuman functions like detecting infrared light and radiation. The name is derived from an electrochemical process that solar cells use. Each nanowire and photo sensor in the retina of the artificial eye functions like a miniature solar cell.