Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of inherited eye diseases that affect the retina. Retinitis pigmentosa causes the degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina. However, Stargardt disease is the most common form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration. A rare (eye) disease affecting less than 21,000 people in the U.S.
Though there is no cure (stargadt disease) yet, MDs are working on a artificial retina. The current version of the artificial retina has provided limited vision for some subjects. One example: A man who had no vision for 50 years had the device implanted in 2002 and now sees large letters and can differentiate between objects like a cup, a plate, and a knife set against a contrasting background. To date, six people have received this version of the retinal implant.
Here is how it works: The device is designed to capture visual signals on a tiny electrode-containing disc and to send the signals to the brain in the form of electrical impulses. The disc sits in the back of the eye and receives input that’s picked up by a small eyeglass-mounted video camera and processed through a small computer on a person’s belt. The electrodes stimulate optic nerve fibers, which then carry the signal toward visual centers of the brain. The first implants contained 16 electrodes and successfully restored some vision in subjects. The newer version contains 50-100 electrodes and is in preclinical trials. The disc will ultimately have many more electrodes and hopefully will allow the user to see faces.
My cousin has been diagnosed with Stargadt disease. He has been living with the disease for over 10 years. He is close to being at the stage of "physically blind." Presently, I have researched a couple of doctors in "china" and "North Korea" who apparently are treating patients with this type of disease.
As I told him when I discovered this new "artificial retina" being developed back in 2002 by a talented doctor and a scientist, someday in the near future this will be a reality for you. By the way, they built their lab in the basement of their house, the rest is history in the making.
