Wireless Eye Chip Restores Central Vision for Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A groundbreaking new device is giving hope to people who have lost central vision due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The miniature wireless eye implant, called PRIMA, works like an electronic retina, restoring the ability to see for patients who had been blind in the central visual field for years.

How PRIMA Works

PRIMA is implanted behind the damaged retina and works in combination with special glasses. The process includes:

1. Glasses convert normal images into invisible near-infrared light.
2. The eye chip receives these light signals and converts them into electrical impulses.
3. These impulses are sent to the brain, allowing patients to perceive shapes, letters, and words once again.

Unlike traditional vision aids, PRIMA does not interfere with peripheral vision and is powered by light, requiring no external batteries.

Promising Clinical Trial Results

In a year-long European study:

• 26 out of 32 patients regained usable central vision
• Many could read letters and full words for the first time in years
• Patients effectively learned to interpret new visual signals, retraining their brains to “see” in a novel way
  

Some participants described the experience as seeing light and shapes where there had been darkness.

Looking Ahead

Currently, PRIMA provides black-and-white vision, but researchers are developing:

• Higher-resolution grayscale versions
• Future models aimed at face recognition and clearer reading

This innovation could bring patients closer to natural vision, transforming the way age-related vision loss is treated.

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