Bionic eye

Manchester eye specialists have implanted an artificial retina or 'bionic eye' in two patients who became blind due to advanced retinitis pigmentosa – an inherited and degenerative disease of the retina.

The surgery was carried out by a team led by Paulo Stanga, reader in ophthalmology at Manchester University and consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

The procedure is part of an international trial of the intraocular electronic retinal prosthesis, which is intended to help some blind people regain a degree of vision. The Manchester patients are two of only 25 people worldwide to participate in the trial to date.

Using Argus II technology, developed by Second Sight Medical Products in Sylmar, California, the implant aims to restore a basic level of useful vision in the form of spots of light and shades of light and dark to people with very severe retinitis pigmentosa.