Overview
- The New England Journal of Medicine published results on October 20 from a 38‑patient trial led by Inserm, Sorbonne University, CNRS and Hôpital de la Fondation Rothschild.
- One year after surgery, 84% of participants could read letters, numbers and words when using the implanted system and specialized glasses following rehabilitation.
- Patients were treated across England, France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands in a multicenter study of the dry form of age‑related macular degeneration.
- The device is a hair‑thin chip of about 2 mm² with roughly 400 electrodes placed under the retina; camera glasses and a wearable processor send infrared images to stimulate retinal neurons, with an optional zoom feature.
- Researchers describe meaningful restoration of central vision but stress the technology is an assistive aid rather than a cure, with surgeon Mahi Muqit calling it a new era for artificial vision.