Eye implant restores vision for people with blindness

People with advanced age-related macular degeneration can now regain some lost sight after Europe’s first approved retinal implant was made available to patients in Germany, offering a new treatment option.

“Now this system can be offered to patients, which was not possible before approval,” said Professor Frank Holz, Medical Director of the Eye Clinic at the University Hospital Bonn and lead investigator of the clinical trial.

The PRIMA implant converts infrared light into electrical signals that stimulate surviving retinal nerve cells. In a study of 38 patients across 17 clinical centres in five European countries, 80% of participants who completed one year of follow-up experienced substantial improvements in vision, with many able to read letters and recognise signs again. The approval also opens the way for further development of the technology, including future versions with higher resolution and possible use in other inherited retinal diseases.