Retinal Implant Helping Blind People See Again

February 18, 2007 | Source: Medical News Today

Some people who became blinded by eye diseases, such as pigmentosa or macular degeneration, are beginning to get some vision back after receiving a retinal implant, called the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, from Doheny Eye Institute researchers.

Patients who have damaged photoreceptor cells in their retina received 16 electrodes which were inserted into their eye. Six patients who were blind were able to see light, detect movement, and identify some shapes and objects. The next step is to offer patients 60 electrodes, which should provide them with even better eyesight.

The retinal implants communicate with an external camera and computer. The person who receives the implant has a pair of glasses which include a video camera. Visual data from the camera is processed by a computer, the processed data is then sent to the implant — all this is done wirelessly. The electrodes in the implant turn the data into electrical impulses which are sent into the brain, which in turn interprets the visual data.