Microelectronic chip implant to improve activities of daily living

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — A team of Germany-based researchers have developed a subretinal visual implant that may help restore useful visual function for blind patients with hereditary retinal diseases and improve visual function for activities of daily living.

The researchers will be present the results of the clinical trial this week at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. As part of the trial, four patients with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa received a permanent subretinal implant in one eye and underwent a battery of daily living activities repeatedly in double blind implant off and on condition in randomized order. The tests measured identification, discrimination and localization.

Preliminary results showed that for all but one patient, performance was statistically significant or highly significant when comparing the visual function with the implant on versus off. One patient suffered a surgery complication resulting in no visual perceptions.

The researchers report, "Currently there is no effective treatment for patients with hereditary retinal diseases available. We have developed a microelectronic chip implanted subretinally to replace the function of the degenerated photoreceptor layer."

Abstract Title: Vision Mediated by the Subretinal Implant: Improvement for Activities of Daily Living – Preliminary Results
Presentation Start/End Time: Sunday, May 1, 2011; 8:30 – 10:15am
Location: Hall B/C
Session Number: 117

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include more than 12,500 eye and vision researchers from over 80 countries. ARVO encourages and assists research, training, publication and knowledge-sharing in vision and ophthalmology. For more information, visit www.arvo.org.

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