Event Abstract

Back to Event

Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System for peripheral retinal degeneration

Maura Arsiero1*
  • 1 Second Sight Medical Products, Switzerland

There is currently no treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, retinal degenerations or for severe sight impairments, though sometimes attempts are made to slow down the degeneration process through the use of dark glasses and vitamin A and E supplements. To manage light sensitivity, the use of yellow-orange glasses and lateral protection of the eyes from light is sometimes used. Treatment of complications such as cataracts, macular oedema and inflammation may offer some improvement in quality of life, as may learning Braille, improving social support, the use of guide dogs or a white cane. The Argus(R) II Retinal Prosthesis System ("Argus II") is the first commercially available retinal device for this condition, although others are in development. In a healthy eye, the photoreceptors in the retina convert light into electrochemical impulses that are sent through the optic nerve and into the brain, where they are decoded into images. If the photoreceptors no longer function correctly—due to conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa—the first step in this process is disrupted, and the visual system cannot transform light into images. The Argus II bypasses the damaged photoreceptors altogether. A miniature video camera housed in the patient’s glasses captures a scene. The video is sent to a small patient-worn computer (i.e., the video processing unit – VPU) where it is processed and transformed into instructions that are sent back to the glasses via a cable. These instructions are transmitted wirelessly to an antenna in the implant. The signals are then sent to the electrode array, which emits small pulses of electricity. These pulses bypass the damaged photoreceptors and stimulate the retina’s remaining cells, which transmit the visual information along the optic nerve to the brain, creating the perception of patterns of light. Patients learn to interpret these visual patterns. The Argus II offers benefits to patients with peripheral retinal degeneration, who currently have no treatment options. The device, safe and effective, provides a way for patients to improve their independence, employment and mobility.

References

1) The Detection of Motion by Blind Subjects With the Epiretinal 60-Electrode (Argus II) Retinal Prosthesis.
Dorn JD, Ahuja AK, Caspi A, da Cruz L, Dagnelie G, Sahel JA, Greenberg RJ, McMahon MJ; gus II Study Group.
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013 Feb;131(2):183-9.

2)The Argus II epiretinal prosthesis system allows letter and word reading and long-term function in patients with profound vision loss.
da Cruz L, Coley BF, Dorn J, Merlini F, Filley E, Christopher P, Chen FK, Wuyyuru V, Sahel J, Stanga P, Humayun M, Greenberg RJ, Dagnelie G; Argus II Study Group.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2013 May;97(5):632-6. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301525. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

3) Interim results from the international trial of Second Sight's visual prosthesis.
Humayun MS, Dorn JD, da Cruz L, Dagnelie G, Sahel JA, Stanga PE, Cideciyan AV, Duncan JL, Eliott D, Filley E, Ho AC, Santos A, Safran AB, Arditi A, Del Priore LV, Greenberg RJ; Argus II Study Group.
Ophthalmology. 2012 Apr;119(4):779-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.09.028. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

4) Preliminary 6 month results from the Argus II epiretinal prosthesis feasibility study.
Humayun MS, Dorn JD, Ahuja AK, Caspi A, Filley E, Dagnelie G, Salzmann J, Santos A, Duncan J, daCruz L, Mohand-Said S, Eliott D, McMahon MJ, Greenberg RJ.
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:4566-8. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5332695.

Keywords: artificial vision, Retinal prosthesis, bionic eye, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Outer retinal degeneration

Conference: MERIDIAN 30M Workshop, Brixen, Italy, 25 Sep - 25 Sep, 2014.

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Topic: Neuroengineering

Citation: Arsiero M (2014). Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System for peripheral retinal degeneration. Front. Neuroeng. Conference Abstract: MERIDIAN 30M Workshop. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneng.2014.11.00008

Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.

The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.

Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.

For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.

Received: 06 Nov 2014; Published Online: 06 Nov 2014.

* Correspondence: Dr. Maura Arsiero, Second Sight Medical Products, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland, maura.arsiero@gmail.com