Implantable Visual Prosthesis

Abstract

The retina is the light sensitive part of the eye. It consists of ten layers. The light photons are absorbed by photoreceptors, then converted to signals which then pass through bipolar cells to ganglion cells whose axons pass in the NFL to the optic nerve, optic chiasma, optic tract, optic radiations, and finally to the visual cortex. Retinal degenerative diseases, whether hereditary like RP, or acquired like AMD, eventually cause loss of photoreceptors, leading to irreversible blindness. RP pathology starts with rods, then progresses to cones, leading to night blindness in the beginning, progressing to field defects and actual decrease of VA finally causing blindness. No treatment strategy has been developed that could stop the progression of the disease, available treatment options are symptomatic for macular edema, cataract, and vision aids for low vision patients. New treatment trials include gene therapy and cell transplantation. Age-related macular degeneration is very common in developed countries due to the increased elderly population. It can be classified into n