Retinal Implant Helping Blind People See Again

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Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 17 Feb 2007 - 15:00 PDT

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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, say scientists from the Doheny Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, San Francisco - who says the FDA has approved a new clinical trial.

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.

Dr. Mark Humayun, lead researcher, said the latest trial exceeded all expectations. He added that he and his team are very excited about the results their new 60-channel implants may offer. The new clinical trials should start this year, said Humayun.

Currently, approximately 25 million people worldwide are blind due to pigmentosa or macular degeneration. Scientists say this number will increase sharply over the next couple of decades.

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.

The new trial will focus on patients over 50 who could see well before the onset of pigmentosa or macular degeneration. Not only will the implants be much more powerful, they are also just one quarter of the size of existing ones. The scientists expect patients to recover from the implant procedures much faster.

This new technology will not provide patients with the eyesight of a person with healthy vision. However, for a completely blind person, it could mean the ability to make out imagery and navigate about.

Doheny Eye Institute
http://www.doheny.org

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
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