How AMD Impairs Central Vision

As age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progresses, the central part of the retina—the area responsible for sharp, detailed vision—gradually deteriorates, causing blurriness in the center of a person’s visual field. In a healthy eye, light-sensitive cells in the retina capture light from the environment and convert it into electrical signals, which travel through retinal nerve cells and the optic nerve to the brain.

Figure 1. Tiny Implant Restores Reading for Those with Severe Vision Loss.

The PRIMA system, developed by Palanker, replaces these damaged photoreceptors with a tiny 2×2 mm wireless implant. This implant transforms incoming light into electrical signals that stimulate the remaining retinal cells. A camera mounted on specially designed glasses captures images and projects them onto the implant using invisible near-infrared light. The implant then converts this light into electrical pulses, restoring the transmission of visual information to the brain. Users can adjust zoom and contrast to optimize their functional vision. Figure 1 shows Tiny Implant Restores Reading for Those with Severe Vision Loss.

The PRIMAvera Trial and One-Year Outcomes

The PRIMAvera trial involved 38 participants aged 60 and older across 17 sites in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

After one year of using the PRIMA system, all procedure-related adverse events had resolved, and most participants demonstrated notable improvements in reading ability. One individual gained as much as 59 letters—or 12 lines—on the eye chart.

“Although the implant alone does not yet restore full 20/20 vision, at UPMC we are exploring ways to further enhance quality of life and help patients surpass the threshold for legal blindness,” said Sahel.

Encouraged by these results, the device manufacturer, Science Corporation, has submitted applications for clinical use approval in Europe and the United States. UPMC became the first U.S. center to implant the PRIMA device in 2020, under a study led by Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Joseph Martel, M.D.

The Challenge of Severe Vision Loss

Many patients with conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lose their central vision, making everyday tasks such as reading nearly impossible. Traditional treatments have been unable to fully restore this loss.

The PRIMA Retinal Chip Innovation

Researchers have developed a tiny, wireless retinal implant that converts light captured by camera-equipped glasses into electrical signals, stimulating the remaining retinal cells. This breakthrough technology effectively replaces lost photoreceptors and restores visual information flow to the brain.

Real-World Impact and Patient Outcomes

Clinical trials show that patients using the PRIMA system can regain reading ability, with some improving by several lines on an eye chart. The device has been submitted for regulatory approval in Europe and the U.S., offering hope for a future where severe vision loss can be partially reversed.

Source: SciTECHDaily

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S(2025), Breakthrough Retinal Chip Restores Reading Ability for Patients with Severe Vision Loss, AnaTechMaz, pp.427