Podcast: Future Vision—Fighting Blindness with Retinal Implants

A revolutionary retinal implant named PRIMA is restoring central vision in patients with geographic atrophy (GA), a severe form of macular degeneration affecting about 1 million Americans. Unlike traditional drugs that only slow disease progression, this wireless neurostimulation system captures real-world images and projects them onto a subretinal chip, which then electrically stimulates remaining retinal cells to recreate natural vision.

A New Era in Vision Restoration

Chuck Dinerstein explores the topic on Episode 144 of the Science Dispatch podcast, highlighting a novel approach that goes beyond merely slowing vision loss.

"For decades, treatments for macular degeneration have focused on slowing, not restoring vision loss. A new retinal implant is flipping that script, turning patients with geographic atrophy into human–machine hybrids who can see again. It’s not sci-fi; it’s a glimpse at how neuro-engineering might redefine what it means to be blind — and human."

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Cameron English, writer, editor, and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast, is a former managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project and currently contributes to ACSH.

"Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project."

Author's summary: The PRIMA retinal implant represents a major breakthrough, offering hope for restoring central vision in patients with advanced macular degeneration through innovative neurostimulation technology.

American Council on Science and Health — 2025-11-06