Coloradan Receives Bionic Eye to Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa

"The Denver Post reported on December 10 that a Colorado woman received Colorado's first bionic eye transplant at the Eye and Vision Care Center of the University of Colorado. The patient, Ms. Jamie Carley suffers from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The degenerative disease rendered her virtually blind," reports the Examiner.

"The November surgery took over five hours. Surgeons implanted a microchip into the retina of one of Ms. Carley's eyes. When she wears specially designed glasses with an attached camera, the video images transmit to the microchip. In turn, the optic nerve is stimulated, with visual information then sent to her brain. Although she can not see normally, her vision is now good enough to see outlines and shadows. As she progresses through a long period of rehabilitation, surgeons hope she will improve her vision by using her brain to interpret the new optical signals. The surgery offers great hope for the future. Currently, it is prohibitively expensive. The implanted device alone cost $150,000. Moreover, the implant only works for patients afflicted with RP." Read more.

Study Says Argus "Bionic" Eye Safe

"The three-year clinical trial results of the retinal implant popularly known as the 'bionic eye,' have proven the long-term efficacy, safety and reliability of the device that restores vision in those blinded by a rare, degenerative eye disease," according to Medical News Today. "The findings show that the Argus II significantly improves visual function and quality of life for people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa. They are being published online today in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology." Read more.

Surgeons in Hawaii Implant Bionic Retinal Device

The Argus II "bionic eye implant has the potential to restore vision to patients, who have been in total or near total darkness."

"Groundbreaking bionic retinal implant surgery has been performed in Honolulu by a team at the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaii. The procedure is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region to help restore vision for the blind," according to a Medical News Today post. "The team of doctors, led by Dr. Gregg T. Kokame, completed the cutting-edge procedure on March 24, 2015. Dr. Mark Humayu, Prof. of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California (USC) Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA and the co-inventor of the Argus II implant was also present for this historic event." Read more.