The PRIMA system is a visual prosthesis that is completely wireless and autonomous. It includes a photovoltaic implant surgically placed under the retina, a special pair of glasses with a camera and built-in projection system, and a pocket processor that enhances the image for clarity and magnification. (Image courtesy Science Corporation.)
via Retinal Physician
A new eye implant called PRIMA is giving hope to people who have lost their central vision due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older adults. This tiny device can help restore some sight, allowing patients to see shapes, letters, and faces again.
The PRIMA system includes a tiny chip placed under the retina and a special pair of glasses with a small camera. The camera captures what the person is looking at and sends the image as infrared light to the chip. The chip then turns the light into electrical signals that stimulate the eye’s nerve cells, sending visual information to the brain. In simple terms, it bypasses the damaged part of the eye and helps the brain “see” again.
In a recent medical study, 38 people with severe vision loss from AMD received the implant. After a year, about 80% of them could see better, many could read letters, recognize faces, or move around more easily. One patient improved by 12 lines on an eye chart, a major change for someone who was nearly blind. Some side effects like eye pressure or minor bleeding were reported, but most went away within a few months.
The vision from PRIMA isn’t like normal sight. It’s black-and-white, low in detail, and limited in area, but it can still make a big difference. Patients can combine the new central vision from the implant with their natural side vision, giving them better awareness of their surroundings.
Doctors say this technology is still developing. Future versions could give clearer, wider, and possibly colored vision. For now, PRIMA offers something remarkable, a chance for people who were once in the dark to see again. As one researcher said, “It’s not just slowing blindness anymore, it’s bringing back sight.”
Reference:
Holz, F. G., Sahel, J.-A., Palanker, D., & Science Corporation. (2025). Subretinal photovoltaic implant to restore vision in geographic atrophy due to age-related macular degeneration. New England Journal of Medicine, 393(16), 1501–1511. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396
