Infection Control News: How Can the PRIMA System Restore Degraded Vision?
Just when you thought that artificial intelligence in the medical industry couldn’t get any more advanced. Well, actually there probably aren’t that many people saying that… since it is pretty advanced it can only go higher. Regardless, an article published by Science Daily shows that the power of AI is making its way into ophthalmology. The article describes a new wireless, solar-powered contact lens put into the eyes that can restore central vision, including the ability to read words and letters. This lens is designed to help people who have suffered age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
So in this article, we’d like to explore what this article says to show you just how far technology has come. And what the future may hold when a new use for Artificial Intelligence is thrown into the mix.
The News
Recently, a London based eye center, Moorfields Eye Hospital co-led a clinical trial demonstrated that a tiny, solar-powered electronic implant can restore functional central vision in patients who had gone blind from the untreatable condition of advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It reported that 84% of participants were able to recognize letters, numbers, and words using the prosthetic vision provided by the implant. Before the surgery, several participants with geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced stage of dry AMD, could not even distinguish the standard vision chart. On average, the patients treated with the implant showed significant improvement, able to read five lines on the chart with the help of the device.
The implant in question is called the PRIMA System, and is developed by Science Corporation. It’s development makes it the first of its kind, being capable of restoring the ability to read letters and words through an eye that’s lost its central vision. Mr. Mahi Muqit, associate professor at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and senior vitreoretinal consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital, led the UK arm of the trial. “In the history of artificial vision, this represents a new era…” Maquit said. “Blind patients are actually able to have meaningful central vision restoration, which has never been done before.”
How Does the PRIMA System Work?
The PRIMA System is the ocular technology restoring sight to those affected by AMD. It aims to bypass the damaged, light-sensitive cells in the eyes and stimulate the next layer, the bipolar cells, directly. And with the PRIMA implant, it consists of three parts:
- Wireless Implant: A microchip, about 2mm by 2mm and only 30 micrometers thick (half the thickness of a human hair), is surgically inserted beneath the central retina. This photovoltaic implant acts as an artificial photoreceptor.
- Specialized Glasses: Patients wear augmented-reality glasses equipped with a video camera.
- Pocket Computer: A waist-worn computer unit containing an AI algorithm processes the visual data.
The camera on the glasses captures a visual scene and projects it as an infra-red beam onto the chip. The AI algorithms in the computer convert this into electrical signals, which the chip uses to stimulate the remaining retinal and optic nerve cells. The brain then interprets these signals as a perceived image.
And it’s worth it to note that the procedure can be performed in just two hours. And patients begin months of rehabilitation to train to interpret these new signals from the implant and regain reading skills. As of now, no participants in the trials experienced a decline in their remaining peripheral vision either.
Potential for a Positive Outlook
So far, the trials consist of 38 patients from 17 hospitals in 5 European countries. In fact, one such patient, Shiela Irvine, talked about the impact of the implant after being diagnosed with AMD. She said: “Before receiving the implant, it was like having two black discs in my eyes, with the outside distorted. I was an avid bookworm, and I wanted that back. It has made a big difference. Reading takes you into another world, I’m definitely more optimistic now.”
And with the help of Moorfield’s team, she’s been able to read small print, do crosswords and even read prescription labels again. Mr. Muquit, looking at the broader scope of it all, said: “Getting back the ability to read is a major improvement in their quality of life, lifts their mood and helps to restore their confidence and independence.”
This new positive results offer a chance to potentially get regulatory approval, and potential for a dramatic new therapeutic option for a patient population with no treatment currently available.
Final Thoughts
The success of the PRIMA System trial is a massive breakthrough in the fight against AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration). This isn’t just a small improvement; it’s the first time we’ve seen meaningful, functional central vision given back to people who were blind from this untreatable condition.
It works by combining a tiny, solar-powered retinal chip—a true AI bionic eye—with smart AI algorithms. This powerful setup creates a new visual pathway, completely bypassing the damaged part of the retina. For thousands of patients, this technology offers much more than the ability to read words again; it restores their independence, confidence, and connection to the world. The PRIMA System is a monumental achievement, proving that when smart AI meets elegant, tiny technology, the future of sight restoration is brighter than ever before.
If you want to read the full story, you can find the link here to check it out. But if you have any questions about any and all things infection control, give us a call at 704-966-1650, and we’ll help you find what you need.
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