Towards a Completely Implantable, Light-Sensitive Intraocular Retinal Prosthesis.

摘要

An electronic retinal prosthesis is under development to treat retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, two presently incurable diseases of the outer retina that afflict millions world-wide. Previous studies have established the feasibility of the retinal prosthesis. Short-term tests in blind humans have shown that degenerated retina will respond to light in a way that is consistent with form vision. Postmortem analysis of human eyes with RP and AMD show a significant survival of inner retinal cells despite near complete degeneration of the photoreceptors in the outer retina. Long-term implants have demonstrated that the retina can tolerate the physical presence of an electrode array without degenerating due to pressure or other mechanical affects.