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In the first surgery of its kind in the UK, surgeons have confirmed the successful implant of a microchip into the retina of blind sufferers of retinal pigmentosa, resulting in the restoration of a degree of sight to the patients.
Retinal pigmentosa is a term used to describe a range of eye conditions, genetic, that can lead to the sufferer becoming blind. Generally symptoms progress from night blindness to tunnel vision before sufferers are usually anticipated to become legally blind in their 40's to 50's. As the name suggests, blindness occurs due to progressive dystrophy to the retina, through abnormalities in the RPE or photoreceptors. Currently, before this latest breakthrough, there are no 'treatments' for the condition to cure it. There are, however, options and recommendations regarding vitamin supplements to slow down the progression of the disease.
The surgery, led by Robert MacLaren of Oxford Ey Hospital and Tim Jackson of Kings College, showed instant results with the patient being able to detect light immediately following the procedure. Further tests showed an ability to distinguish high contrasting objects from each other. Following these successful results, an expanded trial is now anticipated with more patients taking part. Although only the first step in the fight against the condition, the desire is that this procedure can now offer hope to other similar blind and legally blind people.
The device itself is made up of a 3mm microelectronic chip which holds 1,500 light-sensitive pixels.