Bionic vision system successfully implanted in humans

In a groundbreaking feat, a patient with atrophic dry AMD and severe vision loss has regained central visual perception after receiving Prima, a vision restoration system by Pixium Vision.

“Following activation, the patient reported a first perception of light from the central zone where there was none previously,” said Yannick Le Mer, MD, the retinal surgeon who performed the procedure as part of a feasibility study. “The patient now proceeds to the important re-education phase to learn to interpret the elicited light signals and evaluate the performance of the Prima system.”

Developed in conjunction with scientists at Stanford University and the Vision Institute in Paris, the micrometer-sized retinal implant contains an electrode array that wirelessly connects to a pocket-sized computer, which performs virtual retinal processing. A pair of glasses serves as a portable visual interface. The glasses contain an integrated mini-camera that transmits information to the implant.

The clinical trial will evaluate the safety and performance of Prima in patients who have lost their central sight due to advanced dry AMD. Investigators aim to follow 5 patients for 36 months. 

Previous studies in primates found that the implant could activate ganglion cell layers with minimal temperature spikes in a primate retina lacking photoreceptors. The primate also responded in a consistent, reproducible, spatially localized manner to projected patterns.