FDA approves first retinal prosthesis

Wall Street Journal : The Argus II is a treatment option for people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa . The genetic disorder destroys the light-detecting cells in the retina, causing vision to blur and then fail. About 100 000 people in the US have been diagnosed with the condition. The Argus II, which is already available for patients in Europe, can significantly improve vision quality, but it cannot completely restore sight. The device bypasses the damaged cells by wirelessly transmitting video from a camera mounted on the user’s glasses to a retinal implant. That signal triggers electrodes to stimulate light pixels in the retina, which the brain interprets as black-and-white images. The device is very useful for reading large letters but not very effective at recognizing small details. The scientists who developed the Argus II hope that future versions will have increased resolution and the ability to create color images.