Science Corporation implants its vision-restoring chip in its first Stargardt disease patient
By Pradhyuman,
Science Corporation CEO Max Hodak stated that the company implanted its PRIMA vision-restoring chip into its first patient with Stargardt disease. Hodak announced the milestone at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that gradually destroys central vision by killing light-sensing cells in the outer retina. Approximately 150,000 people worldwide have lost vision due to the disease.
The patient received the implant in May during a trial at the Sydney Eye Hospital in Australia. During the first rehabilitation session, the patient saw a letter, and during the second session, the patient read a word.
The procedure places a two-millimeter by two-millimeter chip in the back of the eye. Patients wear camera-equipped glasses that transmit a view of the world to the chip, which acts as an artificial photoreceptor.
Science Corporation plans to test a next-generation device in humans within the next year. The company aims to approach native visual acuity over the next five years.
Maintained by Pradhyuman.
Filed under: Chips & Infrastructure