Retinal Implants

[jdwmont]

Anyone here have any thoughts on the future of retinal implants?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal_implant

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[Kashf Oyoun]

I recently heard a presentation by Mark S. Humayun (Doheny) on retinal prostheses, which I thought was remarkable. Here's a link to a lay article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6368089.stm

I think this is only approved for patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa, where the device attempts to bypass photoreceptors that have long degenerated by stimulating, wirelessly, inner retinal neurons (such as retinal ganglion cells).

You'll find more detailed analysis of 3 patients with the 16-electrode implants in Yanai et al, (2007) Am J Ophth, but they are now trying a 60-electrode design. The more electrodes the better(!), right?

 

[jdwmont]

Great, its one of my long term goals to work in this area in one function or another.