A pioneering retinal implant has successfully restored central vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a peer-reviewed study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
The PRIMA brain-computer interface (BCI) system, developed by Science and co-designed with Professor Daniel Palanker of Stanford University, demonstrated significant improvements in visual function in a multi-centre clinical trial. The study evaluated 38 patients across 17 sites in five countries.
Key findings included:
- Mean improvement of 25.5 letters on the ETDRS chart, equivalent to more than five lines
- 84% of participants regained the ability to read letters, numbers, and words
- 80% achieved a prosthetic visual acuity improvement of at least logMAR 0.2 (roughly 10 letters on the ETDRS chart) at 12 months (p<0.001)
- Peripheral natural vision remained largely unaffected
Dr. Frank Holz, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Bonn and lead author of the NEJM paper, described the results as “a paradigm shift in treating late-stage AMD.” He added: “This study confirms that, for the first time, we can restore functional central vision in patients blinded by geographic atrophy.”
PRIMA combines a small, light-powered retinal implant with specially designed glasses that wirelessly deliver power and visual information to the implant. Once inserted beneath the atrophic macula, the microchip receives infrared video signals from the glasses’ camera, which are processed and transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. Patients then undergo training to interpret these images, gradually regaining functional vision.
For Sheila Irvine, 70, who is registered blind, the technology has delivered profound change. Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It’s out of this world to be able to read and do crosswords again. It’s beautiful, wonderful. It gives me such pleasure.”
In the UK arm of the trial, surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London implanted the microchip in five patients. Consultant ophthalmic surgeon Mahi Muqit described the results as “pioneering and life-changing technology,” adding: “This is the first implant that’s been demonstrated to give patients meaningful vision they can use in daily life, such as reading and writing. I think this is a major advance.”
Max Hodak, CEO of Science, said the study reinforced the company’s commitment to transformative technologies: “This breakthrough underscores our commitment to pioneering technologies that provide hope to patients in need and which have the ability to transform lives.”
Geographic atrophy, a severe form of dry AMD, affects over 5 million people worldwide, including more than 250,000 in the UK. It progressively damages cells in the central retina, leading to blurred or distorted central vision and loss of fine detail. The PRIMA system offers a new therapeutic approach where previously no options existed to restore central vision.
