The Prima system uses a retinal implant and camera-equipped glasses to help patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration regain the ability to read and use digital devices.
Key facts
- •Age-related macular degeneration affects more than 5 million people globally.
- •More than 80% of recipients were able to read, use phones, and do crosswords after training.
- •The implant contains 378 pixels, each featuring an electrode and two photovoltaic cells.
- •The system uses near-infrared light at an invisible wavelength of 880 nanometers.
- •The Science Corporation developed the system, with Frank Brodie serving as its medical director.
The Prima system, developed by California-based Science Corporation, is designed to restore vision for patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The technology combines a retinal implant with specialized eyeglasses to bypass damaged photoreceptors. It received approval in Europe in July and is currently awaiting FDA clearance in the United States.
By the numbers
How the technology functions
The system addresses the fact that AMD damages photoreceptors while leaving other retinal circuitry intact. The implant, which consists of 378 pixels, replaces these photoreceptors by transmitting visual information directly to healthy bipolar and ganglion cells, which then send the signal to the brain. The implant is powered by photovoltaic cells that convert light into current, removing the need for an internal battery.
Camera and processing components
Users wear glasses equipped with a miniature front-facing camera that captures video at five megapixels and 30 frames per second. This feed is sent to a handheld processor that converts the video into infrared light signals. A laser projector on the glasses then shines pulses of near-infrared light at 880 nanometers into the eye to reach the implant. Wearers can use physical buttons on the processor to adjust brightness, contrast, and zoom.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by MIT Technology Review.
