Blind Patients Gain Vision with Innovative Implant Technology

Patients who lost their vision due to a common yet untreatable age-related condition can now read again, thanks to an innovative electronic eye implant called the **Prima device**. Measuring just **2mm by 2mm**, the device is implanted beneath the retina, allowing individuals with prior blindness to recognize letters, numbers, and words. This breakthrough has been described as a transformative advancement in artificial vision, with experts expressing optimism about its potential availability on public health systems like the NHS in the future.

The world-first trial involved **38 patients** across **17 sites** in **five countries**, including the **United Kingdom**, **France**, **Italy**, and the **Netherlands**. All participants were affected by **geographic atrophy (GA)**, a severe form of **age-related macular degeneration (AMD)**, which can lead to complete vision loss. Approximately **five million people** worldwide suffer from GA, and it is estimated that **one in four** legally blind individuals in the UK has this condition.

The procedures took place at **Moorfields Eye Hospital** in London approximately three years ago. Under the direction of **Mahi Muqit**, a senior vitreoretinal consultant at the hospital and the **UCL Institute of Ophthalmology**, surgeons performed a **vitrectomy**, removing the clear, jelly-like substance from within the eye. They then created a trapdoor under the retina to implant the tiny chip.

Patients use augmented-reality glasses equipped with a video camera to interpret visual information. This camera connects to a small computer worn on the waist, providing a zoom feature to enlarge text. As the camera captures scenes, an infra-red beam activates the chip, sending processed signals through the retina and optical nerve to the brain, where they are perceived as vision.

Mr. Muqit emphasized the significance of these advancements, stating, “This has been life-changing for patients. We’ve got some patients who are now reading books; their quality of life is much higher.” Patients like **Sheila Irvine**, who participated in the trial, report being able to read prescriptions and complete crossword puzzles, activities they had previously thought lost to them. Sheila described her pre-surgery vision as “like having two black discs” in her eyes, with distortion in her peripheral view.

Following the operation, activation of the chip occurs about a month later, with patients engaging in extensive rehabilitation to learn how to read again. The device, while permanent, requires the glasses to function, which means patients can choose when and how often to use them. Mr. Muqit reassured that there are no pain or safety concerns associated with the device, as it activates only when the glasses are worn.

The results of the trial, published in the **New England Journal of Medicine**, revealed that **84%** of participants could read letters, numbers, and words while using the Prima device. On average, they were able to read five lines on a vision chart, a significant improvement for those who had previously been unable to see the chart at all.

The developers of the Prima device, **Science Corporation**, based in the United States, are now in the process of seeking regulatory approval. Mr. Muqit expressed hope that this groundbreaking technology could soon be accessible through public health systems like the NHS, marking what he termed a “paradigm shift” in restoring vision for blind patients.

As this technology continues to evolve, it holds the promise of enhancing the lives of those affected by severe vision loss, allowing them to engage in activities they once enjoyed.