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Study Finds Retinal Implant Restores Limited Central Vision in Advanced AMD

The peer‑reviewed results show low‑resolution, monochrome vision requiring extensive training.

Overview

  • A New England Journal of Medicine multicenter study reported that of 38 people implanted, 32 were evaluated at one year and 26 achieved clinically meaningful vision gains.
  • Participants could read letters and words, and some managed book pages or crosswords, but reading remained slow and restricted to black‑and‑white perception.
  • Patient‑reported questionnaires showed no significant improvements in daily quality of life despite objective test gains.
  • PRIMA is a wireless 2×2 millimeter photovoltaic microarray placed under the retina and driven by infrared images from camera‑equipped glasses to bypass lost photoreceptors.
  • Science Corporation acquired the program from Pixium Vision for about €4 million, has applied for European market certification, is in talks with U.S. regulators, and is developing sleeker eyewear and a higher‑pixel successor as experts call for randomized controlled trials.