Federal officials have given the green light to a “bionic” retina that could help thousands of patients who have lost their sight gain some of their vision back.
The implant, which won Food and Drug Administration approval yesterday, would take the place of damaged cells in the back of the eye that normally receive electronic visual signals.
Known as the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, the device includes a small video camera and transmitter mounted on a pair of glasses that wirelessly send data to electrodes in the patient’s retina.
While it is by no means a cure for blindness, the device could help patients detect light and dark.
The technology, approved in Europe in late 2011, will initially be available only to roughly 4,000 of the 100,000 Americans who suffer from the retinitis pigmentosa disorder.