Retinal prosthesis backed for NHS funding

NHS England funding of the Second Sight Argus II retinal prosthesis system has been justified in a peer reviewed paper published in the Royal College of Ophthalmologist’s Eye Journal as providing sufficient cost savings and patient benefits.

The article, titled Electronic Retinal Implants and Artificial Vision: Journey and Present, said that while there were five main retinal devices approved or in pre-commercial development stages, the Argus II was one of two devices most likely to succeed in being the first to be used clinically.

The review concluded: ‘The economic argument is clear. Provided device-life is long enough, its cost should be acceptable for the obtained improvement in quality of life.’