Tiny Eye Implant Restores Reading Ability for Legally Blind Patients

Recent advancements in medical technology have led to a revolutionary treatment enabling some legally blind patients to read again. A clinical study published on March 4, 2024, in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that microchips implanted in the eyes of patients with geographic atrophy showed significant improvements in visual acuity. Out of 32 patients who participated in the study, 26 patients demonstrated “meaningful improvement” in their vision one year after receiving the implant.

The innovative procedure involves the insertion of a tiny implant, which is thinner than a human hair, beneath the retina. Patients must also wear specialized glasses equipped with a video camera that captures external images and projects them onto the implant using near-infrared light. This combined system is referred to as the photovoltaic retina implant microarray, or PRIMA.

One participant, Sheila Irvine, a 70-year-old woman, expressed her excitement about the treatment. Speaking to the BBC, she described the ability to read and solve crosswords as “out of this world.” Irvine noted, “It’s beautiful, wonderful. It gives me such pleasure,” highlighting the profound impact this technology has had on her life. Despite the improvements, navigating the use of PRIMA glasses requires significant concentration, as the device can only focus on a few letters at a time.

Geographic atrophy is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly, affecting approximately 5 million people globally. Until recently, treatment options were limited primarily to pharmacological interventions that slowed disease progression without restoring lost vision. According to Frank Holz, the lead author of the study and a retina specialist based in Germany, the introduction of the PRIMA device marks a significant advancement. He stated, “For the first time, we are able to restore visual acuity in patients who have completely lost their central vision.”

In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Syfovre, the first drug designed to treat geographic atrophy. While it can slow disease progression, it does not reverse damage. The distinction between the two forms of macular degeneration—wet and dry—is crucial. The wet form is characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina, affecting around 15% of patients and has had available treatments for years. In contrast, the dry form, which is more prevalent, leads to thinning of the macula and the formation of protein clumps known as drusen.

The PRIMA implant, developed by Science Corporation, a California-based biotech firm, is currently undergoing clinical trials and is not yet licensed for general use. As noted by CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, while the device shows promise, the study size is relatively small, necessitating further research to validate its efficacy.

Max Hodak, founder and CEO of Science Corporation, emphasized the transformative potential of PRIMA in a recent press release. He remarked, “This breakthrough underscores our commitment to pioneering technologies that provide hope to patients in need, and which have the ability to transform lives.” As the field of vision restoration continues to evolve, innovations like the PRIMA implant could offer newfound hope for those affected by severe vision loss.