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Neural Engineering pp 635–655Cite as

Retinal Prosthesis

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Abstract

A microelectronic retinal prosthesis uses modern integrated circuit technology to address one of medicine’s most vexing problems: loss of sight due to photoreceptor degeneration. Other causes of blindness have been successfully addressed in recent times. Cataracts (opacity in the lens) are routinely treated by removal of the diseased lens and replacement with an artificial lens. Glaucoma can be regularly managed with topical eye drops. But the loss of photoreceptors cannot currently be overcome. New retinal prosthetic systems, based on the principle of electrical activation of nerve cells by a device implanted near the retina (Fig. 15.1), are under investigation for the treatment of photoreceptor degeneration [1, 2]. It is tempting to simply extrapolate other neural prostheses, such as cochlear implants (see editor), to retinal systems, and in some instances, it is valid to do so. However, the complexity of vision suggests that revolutionary new technology is needed to realize a useful visual prosthesis. In addition, the sense of vision has important differences compared to other senses that require special consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angles, California, USA

    James Weiland & Mark Humayun

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  1. James Weiland
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  2. Mark Humayun
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  1. Deptarment of Biomedical Engineering, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, University of Minnesota, 312 Church Street SE., Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Bin He

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Weiland, J., Humayun, M. (2013). Retinal Prosthesis. In: He, B. (eds) Neural Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5227-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5227-0_15

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