NHS considers implant for RP

An NHS advisory group is to consider the use of the Argus II Retinal prosthesis system in the treatment of blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), says its manufacturer Second Sight Medical Products.

The device, said to be the world’s first approved unit intended to restore some functional vision for people suffering from blindness due to outer retinal degenerations, works by converting video images captured by a miniature camera in the patient’s glasses into a series of electrical pulses.

These pulses are then transmitted wirelessly to electrodes on the surface of the retina and are intended to stimulate the retina’s remaining cells, resulting in the corresponding perception of patterns of light in the brain.