Modern technology ventures into the heart of the human eye. A recent development could transform the lives of millions of people affected by blindness.
Researchers have developed a retinal implant capable of partially restoring vision in blind patients. This advance raises new hopes for those suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD, affecting millions of individuals, causes progressive loss of central vision. The dry and wet forms of the disease significantly impact quality of life. Geographic atrophy, a form of dry AMD, is particularly devastating and is characterized by the breakdown of photoreceptor cells.
The Prima implant, developed by the French company Pixium Vision, represents a potential answer to this problem. This device, which works with glasses equipped with a camera, was recently acquired by Science Corporation for commercialization. Clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness.
During these trials, 38 blind patients received the Prima implant, a subretinal chip that captures infrared beams emitted by the glasses, and converts them into electrical impulses to transmit them to the brain. This process makes it possible to restore a form of vision, although visual acuity still reaches a limited level compared to the standard.
Preliminary results reveal an improvement in the participants’ visual acuity. After several months, the average acuity dropped from 20/450 to 20/160, allowing some of them to read more letters on a tableau. For a better understanding of these measurements, 20/450 means that the patient must stand 20 feet (or 6.1 meters) away to recognize a objet which a normal person could recognize from a distance of 450 feet (137.2 meters).
However, results vary, with some patients seeing significant gains, while others benefit only modestly.
Study leaders, such as Max Hodak of Science Corporation, have expressed enthusiasm for the breakthrough. For the first time, the ability to read fluently was restored, opening new avenues for the treatment of blindness.
The Prima implant, which combines technology and medicine, could offer a glimmer of hope to millions of people affected by vision loss. This promising technology could see the jour on the market in the coming years, offering new possibilities for people with AMD.
