"The new procedure involves inserting a tiny 2mm-square photovoltaic microchip, with the thickness of a human hair, under the retina. Patients then put on glasses with a built-in video camera. The camera sends an infrared beam of video images to the implant at the back of the eye, which sends them on to a small pocket processor to be enhanced and made clearer. The images are then sent back to the patient's brain, via the implant and optic nerve, giving them some vision again."
"The technology offers hope to people with an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), called geographic atrophy (GA), which affects more than 250,000 people in the UK and five million worldwide. In those with the condition, cells in a tiny area of the retina at the back of the eye gradually become damaged and die, resulting in blurred or distorted central vision. Colour and fine detail are often lost."
"Mahi Muqit, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, who led the UK arm of the trial, told the BBC it was "pioneering and life-changing technology". "This is the first implant that's been demonstrated to give patients meaningful vision that they can use in their daily life, such as reading, writing. "I think this is a major advance," he said."
A surgeon implanted 2mm-square photovoltaic microchips under the retinas of patients with geographic atrophy. Patients wore glasses with built-in video cameras that transmitted infrared images to the implant, which relayed signals through a pocket processor and the optic nerve to restore central vision. Patients trained for months to interpret the enhanced images. Five patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital regained abilities such as reading and completing crosswords. The trial involved 38 patients across five European centres. The procedure offers potential treatment for millions affected by dry age-related macular degeneration by restoring meaningful, usable vision for daily activities.
Read at www.bbc.com
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