Performance of real-world functional vision tasks by blind subjects improves after implantation with the Argus® II retinal prosthesis system.

Background: The main objective of this study was to test Argus II subjects on three real-world functional vision tasks.

Design: The study was designed to be randomized and prospective. Testing was conducted in a hospital/research laboratory setting at the various participating centres.

Ten-Year Follow-up of a Blind Patient Chronically Implanted with Epiretinal Prosthesis Argus I.

Purpose: The Argus I implant is the first-generation epiretinal prosthesis approved for an investigational clinical trial by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Herein we report testing results obtained from a 10-year follow-up to study the physiologic effects of the bioelectronic visual implant after prolonged chronic electrical stimulation.

Design: Case report.

Interphase gap as a means to reduce electrical stimulation thresholds for epiretinal prostheses.

Objective: Epiretinal prostheses are designed to restore functional vision to the blind by electrically stimulating surviving retinal neurons. These devices have classically employed symmetric biphasic current pulses in order to maintain a balance of charge. Prior electrophysiological and psychophysical studies in peripheral nerve show that adding an interphase gap (IPG) between the two phases makes stimulation more efficient than pulses with no gap.

The Argus II epiretinal prosthesis system allows letter and word reading and long-term function in patients with profound vision loss.

Background: Retinal prosthesis systems (RPS) are a novel treatment for profound vision loss in outer retinal dystrophies. Ideal prostheses would offer stable, long-term retinal stimulation and reproducible spatial resolution in a portable form appropriate for daily life.

Methods: We report a prospective, internally controlled, multicentre trial of the Argus II system.