The Argus II system can restore some vision in people made blind by retinitis pigmentosa. The patient wears a pair of glasses with a small video camera mounted on it, which captures images.
courtesy Second Sight Medical Products, Inc
The Argus II system —
A prosthesis no larger than a pencil eraser is surgically implanted on the surface of the retina.
courtesy Second Sight Medical Products, Inc
The Argus II system —
Visual information from the camera is transmitted wirelessly to electrodes on the artificial retina, where it is converted to electrical pulses.
The Argus II system —
Any remaining cells that haven't been damaged by the disease are stimulated by the pulses, leading to a perception of light patterns in the brain.
courtesy Second Sight Medical Products, Inc
Roger Pontz —
Roger Pontz was left completely blind by retinitis pigmentosa. In January 2014 he became the second person in the United States to get the implant.
CNN
Retinitis pigmentosa —
Retinitis pigmentosa causes a slow loss of light-sensitive retinal cells.
CNN
Surgical procedure —
The surgery itself lasts around four hours, but it can be a number of weeks before the device is switched on and the patient is able to see using it.
