Overview
- Of 32 patients completing 12 months, 27 (84%) used the system to read letters, numbers or words, with an average improvement of about 25 letters and a maximum gain of 59 letters.
- The PRIMA system pairs a 2×2 mm subretinal photovoltaic chip with augmented‑reality glasses that project infrared images to stimulate remaining retinal cells without external wires.
- Nineteen of 32 participants experienced transient ocular adverse events that resolved within two months, and investigators reported no loss of residual peripheral vision in the treated eye.
- Implants are activated about four to five weeks after surgery and require months of visual rehabilitation, with the vitreoretinal procedure typically completed in under two hours by trained surgeons.
- Following publication, manufacturer Science Corporation applied for clinical authorization in Europe and the United States, as teams work on grayscale software, higher‑resolution chips and improved eyewear for wider use.