A retinal prosthesise implanted in the eye could restore the sight of millions.

It would use a digital video camera mounted on a pair of glasses, coupled via a miniature transmitter to a retinal implant array underneath the retina. The array’s electrodes would stimulate surviving nerve cells in response to images from the camera, providing a small patch of vision.

The Boston Retinal Implant Project hopes to test a permanent prosthesis by 2006.