Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 8 February 2002:
Vol. 295. no. 5557, pp. 1022 - 1025
DOI: 10.1126/science.1067996
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Viewpoint

Will Retinal Implants Restore Vision?

Eberhart Zrenner

A number of research groups are developing electrical implants that can be attached directly to the retina in an attempt to restore vision to patients suffering from retinal degeneration. However, despite promising results in animal experiments, there are still several major obstacles to overcome before retinal prostheses can be used clinically.

University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Department of Pathophysiology of Vision and Neuro-Ophthalmology, Schleichstr. 12, D - 72076 Tübingen, Germany. E-mail: ezrenner{at}uni-tuebingen.de

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Ectopic Expression of Multiple Microbial Rhodopsins Restores ON and OFF Light Responses in Retinas with Photoreceptor Degeneration.
Y. Zhang, E. Ivanova, A. Bi, and Z.-H. Pan (2009)
J. Neurosci. 29, 9186-9196
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Feasibility Study of a Retinal Prosthesis: Spatial Vision With a 16-Electrode Implant.
A. Caspi, J. D. Dorn, K. H. McClure, M. S. Humayun, R. J. Greenberg, and M. J. McMahon (2009)
Arch Ophthalmol 127, 398-401
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Retinal Ganglion Cells Survive and Maintain Normal Dendritic Morphology in a Mouse Model of Inherited Photoreceptor Degeneration.
F. Mazzoni, E. Novelli, and E. Strettoi (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 14282-14292
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Extraocular surgery for implantation of an active subretinal visual prosthesis with external connections: feasibility and outcome in seven patients.
D Besch, H Sachs, P Szurman, D Gulicher, R Wilke, S Reinert, E Zrenner, K U Bartz-Schmidt, and F Gekeler (2008)
Br J Ophthalmol 92, 1361-1368
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Initiation and Stability of Pursuit Eye Movements in Simulated Retinal Prosthesis at Different Implant Locations.
L. Wang, L. Yang, and G. Dagnelie (2008)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 49, 3933-3939
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Functional Stability of Retinal Ganglion Cells after Degeneration-Induced Changes in Synaptic Input.
D. J. Margolis, G. Newkirk, T. Euler, and P. B. Detwiler (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 6526-6536
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Factors Affecting Perceptual Thresholds in Epiretinal Prostheses.
C. de Balthasar, S. Patel, A. Roy, R. Freda, S. Greenwald, A. Horsager, M. Mahadevappa, D. Yanai, M. J. McMahon, M. S. Humayun, et al. (2008)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 49, 2303-2314
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
High-Resolution Electrical Stimulation of Primate Retina for Epiretinal Implant Design.
C. Sekirnjak, P. Hottowy, A. Sher, W. Dabrowski, A. M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 4446-4456
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Optical Imaging to Evaluate Retinal Activation by Electrical Currents Using Suprachoroidal-Transretinal Stimulation.
Y. Okawa, T. Fujikado, T. Miyoshi, H. Sawai, S. Kusaka, T. Mihashi, Y. Hirohara, and Y. Tano (2007)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 48, 4777-4784
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Perspectives on: Materials Aspects for Retinal Prostheses.
C. Scholz (2007)
Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 22, 539-568
   Abstract »    PDF »
Visual acuity and perimacular retinal layers detected by optical coherence tomography in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
T. Matsuo and N. Morimoto (2007)
Br J Ophthalmol 91, 888-890
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Demonstration of artificial visual percepts generated through thalamic microstimulation.
J. S. Pezaris and R. C. Reid (2007)
PNAS 104, 7670-7675
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Functional Cerebral Reorganization for Auditory Spatial Processing and Auditory Substitution of Vision in Early Blind Subjects.
O. Collignon, M. Lassonde, F. Lepore, D. Bastien, and C. Veraart (2007)
Cereb Cortex 17, 457-465
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of Electrically Coupled Inhibitory Networks on Local Neuronal Responses to Intracortical Microstimulation.
S. Butovas, S. G. Hormuzdi, H. Monyer, and C. Schwarz (2006)
J Neurophysiol 96, 1227-1236
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Direct and Indirect Activation of Cortical Neurons by Electrical Microstimulation.
E. J. Tehovnik, A. S. Tolias, F. Sultan, W. M. Slocum, and N. K. Logothetis (2006)
J Neurophysiol 96, 512-521
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Retinal oxygenation and oxygen metabolism in abyssinian cats with a hereditary retinal degeneration..
L. Padnick-Silver, J. J. K. Derwent, E. Giuliano, K. Narfstrom, and R. A. Linsenmeier (2006)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 47, 3683-3689
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Consensus document on European brain research.
J. Olesen, M. G Baker, T. Freund, M. di Luca, J. Mendlewicz, I. Ragan, and M. Westphal (2006)
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 77, i1-i49
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evaluation of Subretinal Implants Coated with Amorphous Aluminum Oxide and Diamond-like Carbon.
R. Sweitzer, C. Scholz, S. Montezuma, and J. F. Rizzo III (2006)
Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 21, 5-22
   Abstract »    PDF »
Simulation of Artificial Vision, III: Do the Spatial or Temporal Characteristics of Stimulus Pixelization Really Matter?.
A. P. Fornos, J. Sommerhalder, B. Rappaz, A. B. Safran, and M. Pelizzone (2005)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 46, 3906-3912
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Neuroprotective Effect of Subretinal Implants in the RCS Rat.
M. T. Pardue, M. J. Phillips, H. Yin, B. D. Sippy, S. Webb-Wood, A. Y. Chow, and S. L. Ball (2005)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 46, 674-682
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Artificial means for restoring vision.
P. Hossain, I. W Seetho, A. C Browning, and W. M Amoaku (2005)
BMJ 330, 30-33
   Full Text »    PDF »
Directed Retinal Nerve Cell Growth for Use in a Retinal Prosthesis Interface.
T. Leng, P. Wu, N. Z. Mehenti, S. F. Bent, M. F. Marmor, M. S. Blumenkranz, and H. A. Fishman (2004)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 45, 4132-4137
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Migration of Retinal Cells through a Perforated Membrane: Implications for a High-Resolution Prosthesis.
D. Palanker, P. Huie, A. Vankov, R. Aramant, M. Seiler, H. Fishman, M. Marmor, and M. Blumenkranz (2004)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 45, 3266-3270
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Electrophysiological Studies of the Feasibility of Suprachoroidal-Transretinal Stimulation for Artificial Vision in Normal and RCS Rats.
H. Kanda, T. Morimoto, T. Fujikado, Y. Tano, Y. Fukuda, and H. Sawai (2004)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 45, 560-566
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Methods and Perceptual Thresholds for Short-Term Electrical Stimulation of Human Retina with Microelectrode Arrays.
J. F. Rizzo III, J. Wyatt, J. Loewenstein, S. Kelly, and D. Shire (2003)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 44, 5355-5361
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Perceptual Efficacy of Electrical Stimulation of Human Retina with a Microelectrode Array during Short-Term Surgical Trials.
J. F. Rizzo III, J. Wyatt, J. Loewenstein, S. Kelly, and D. Shire (2003)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 44, 5362-5369
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spatiotemporal Effects of Microstimulation in Rat Neocortex: A Parametric Study Using Multielectrode Recordings.
S. Butovas and C. Schwarz (2003)
J Neurophysiol 90, 3024-3039
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Localized Neurotransmitter Release for Use in a Prototype Retinal Interface.
M. C. Peterman, D. M. Bloom, C. Lee, S. F. Bent, M. F. Marmor, M. S. Blumenkranz, and H. A. Fishman (2003)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 44, 3144-3149
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Social Quantum Model of Dissonance: From Social Organization to Cultural Evolution.
W. F. Lawless and M. Schwartz (2002)
Social Science Computer Review 20, 441-450
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)