Researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital achieved a remarkable milestone restoring sight in previously blind eyes. A clinical trial with 38 patients showed 84% regained the ability to read letters, numbers, and words using the new implant and AR glasses.
Geographic atrophy from dry age-related macular degeneration causes central blindness in millions globally, and no effective treatment had existed until now.
The device, called PRIMA, offers hope by restoring functional vision in patients who could not distinguish even a vision chart before surgery.
How the PRIMA Implant and Augmented Reality Glasses Work
The implant is a wireless photovoltaic chip placed beneath the retina through minimally invasive surgery lasting under two hours. Tiny but powerful, the chip acts like a miniature solar panel, converting near-infrared light from attached glasses into electrical signals stimulating retinal cells.
Glasses include a camera. An AI-powered computer is worn on the waist. It processes visual information and projects zoomable images onto the chip. The brain then receives electrical signals. It interprets them as images. This process enables patients to perceive shapes, letters, and numbers with meaningful clarity.
Clinical Trial Outcomes and Patient Benefits
Participants read an average of five lines on a standard eye chart, despite having completely lost central vision before implantation. No loss of remaining peripheral vision was reported, confirming the therapy’s safety and preserving existing sight functionality.
Patients underwent rehabilitation over several months, learning to interpret the new vision signals and use zoom to improve reading ability. Sheila Irvine, a trial participant, described regaining optimism and independence, enjoying reading again and performing daily activities confidently.
The Future of Artificial Vision and Patient Care
The PRIMA system introduces a new era of medical devices. It offers life-changing vision restoration for millions affected by untreatable retinal diseases. Its potential extends beyond dry AMD, with ongoing research exploring treatments for other eye conditions and personalized implant options.
Easy-to-perform surgeries and accessible technology pave the way for widespread clinical adoption and global availability in coming years. Rehabilitation remains key, ensuring patients maximize the benefits by training their brains to interpret prosthetic vision effectively.
Vision Technology Innovations
This breakthrough demonstrates how technology blending nanoscience, AI, and minimally invasive surgery can restore critical sensory functions for disabled patients. The PRIMA implant represents hope. It renews quality of life by returning reading ability to the blind. This allows engagement with the world again.
Patient-centered innovation, paired with broader accessibility, holds promise for transforming care and independence for millions worldwide living with vision loss.
