A miniature electronic eye implant is offering hope to patients with incurable vision loss, according to a small trial described as a “breakthrough” in artificial vision. The device, implanted under the retina and paired with specialized glasses, targets individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that causes central vision loss and typically affects people over the age of 50.
The trial, involving 38 elderly participants, found that many patients regained the ability to read letters, words, and numbers after using the device, as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“This study confirms that, for the first time, we can restore functional central vision in patients blinded by geographic atrophy,” said Dr Frank Holz, lead author of the study and chair of the ophthalmology department at the University Hospital of Bonn in Germany.
“The implant represents a paradigm shift in treating late-stage AMD.”
All participants had geographic atrophy with dry AMD, a progressive form of the disease for which no treatment exists. Prior to implantation, they retained only limited peripheral vision. The device works in conjunction with special glasses containing a video camera, allowing users to focus, zoom, and scan text or numbers.
The glasses capture visual scenes and convert them using near-infrared light, which is projected onto the implant. The implant then converts the light into electrical signals that stimulate retinal cells, effectively restoring the flow of visual information to the brain.
Within a year of implantation, 84% of participants could read letters, numbers, and words, while 69% reported being generally satisfied with the device.
The technology was initially developed by Pixium Vision, a French company that ceased operations last year. Science Corporation, a U.S.-based developer of brain-computer interfaces, acquired Pixium’s assets and has applied for approval to sell the device in the European Union.
The company aims to make the device available in the EU as early as next year for a subset of patients with advanced AMD and severe vision loss, while also developing a more advanced version of the implant.
This innovation represents a significant step forward in artificial vision, offering new opportunities for patients with advanced AMD to regain central vision and independence in daily activities.
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