A chip has been implanted under the retina for the first time at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). The aim is to treat advanced dry age-related macular degeneration, for which there is currently no treatment. Vision in the center of the retina could be restored to a certain extent by the procedure.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a visual disorder that increases with age and is characterized by progressive impairment of sharp vision. While so-called wet AMD is treatable, there is still no effective, approved therapy for the 'dry' late form. Those affected are often no longer able to recognize or read faces.
The implantation of a 2×2 millimeter, 30 micrometer thick chip with 378 pixels from Pixium Vision was carried out at the UKB Eye Clinic under real-time monitoring using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during the operation. It was carried out as part of an international clinical study. Special glasses with a micro-camera are worn for follow-up observation, through which the chip receives both the image signals and energy via infrared projection. The induced electrical impulses stimulate the remaining neuronal cells in the retina.
