Subretinal electrical stimulation of the rabbit retina with acutely implanted electrode arrays.

Background: Subretinal implants intend to replace photoreceptor function in patients suffering from degenerative retinal disease by topically applying electrical stimuli from the subretinal space. This study intended to prove the feasibility of a newly developed transchoroidal surgery and, furthermore, of a subretinal electrode array, which closely resembles envisioned human implants to electrically stimulate the visual system in rabbits.

Methods: Five rabbits (ten eyes) were implanted with a 4x2-electrode array via a transchoroidal access to the subretinal space.