Subretinal photovoltaic implant restores functional central vision in geographic atrophy due to AMD — NEJM PRIMAvera results
Summary
The landmark PRIMAvera clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that Science Corporation's PRIMA subretinal photovoltaic implant restored functional central vision to patients blinded by geographic atrophy (advanced dry AMD) — the first treatment in clinical trials to successfully restore form vision in this condition. 38 patients were implanted with the 2mm×2mm×30µm wireless PRIMA chip in the subretinal space; 80% demonstrated meaningful improvement of visual acuity and were able to read letters, numbers, and words. The implant provides simultaneous use of central prosthetic and peripheral natural vision. PRIMA is a paradigm shift from the substitution vision of first-generation retinal prosthetics to genuine photoreceptor substitution.
Why it matters
PRIMA in NEJM is the most important retinal implant publication since the Argus II decades ago — and far more clinically impressive, because 80% reading letters from a tiny 2mm subretinal chip is a genuinely usable visual restoration, not laboratory phosphene perception. The simultaneous peripheral and central vision capability, the ultra-thin form factor, and the NEJM publication combine to create the strongest commercialization case for any BCI product in history.
Want the full NeurotechMag Pro intelligence database?
Access 800+ papers, trials, patents, funding rounds and news items — updated daily.
Start free trial