Stanford University

In a Stanford Medicine-led clinical trial of a wireless retinal prosthesis, people with advanced macular degeneration regained enough vision to read books and subway signs.

The 2-by-2-millimeter chip that receives images is implanted in the part of the retina where photoreceptors have been lost.

The design means patients can use their natural peripheral vision along with the prosthetic central vision, which helps with orientation and navigation.

Of the 32 patients who completed the one-year trial, 27 could read and 26 demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in visual acuity, which was defined as the ability to read at least two additional lines on a standard eye chart. On average, participants’ visual acuity improved by 5 lines; one improved by 12 lines.