Can a retinal implant restore vision in dry age-related macular degeneration?
In a preliminary study, the PRIMA implant was reported to restore some useful vision to patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. It is estimated that 80% of patients with the PRIMA implant have meaningful improvement in vision at 12 months from surgery. Meaningful improvement was defined as at least two lines of improvement on a standard eye chart (Snellen chart). On average in this study, if a patient started with 20/320 vision, his vision with PRIMA would be about 20/100. Thus, the improvement in vision, although significant, does not mean a return to normal vision. Furthermore, about 13% of patients experienced no improvement with PRIMA.
How does PRIMA work?
PRIMA stands for Photovoltaic Retina Implant Microarray System. It includes an implant that is placed under the macula (the center of the retina) in an operation. The system is composed of glasses with a camera that converts visual images into a signal that is sent into the eye as infrared light. The retina implant converts the infrared light into electrical signals that can be transmitted by the retina to the brain to provide vision.
What are the risks of the retina implant?
In the landmark study, 19 (50%) of 38 patients experienced at least one serious adverse event. This included elevated eye pressure, retinal breaks, retinal detachment, bleeding, and new wet macular degeneration. Although these complications were managed, some patients required additional surgery.
Is the PRIMA implant available at this time?
No. The PRIMA implant is not currently FDA approved. Further testing is needed to prove effectiveness and safety. The only FDA-approved treatments for advanced dry AMD include Syfovre and Izervay. Low vision aids remain a staple in the management of vision loss.
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