Developed by Second Sight Medical Products, the Argus II has been implanted in more than 100 individuals worldwide and is the first approved retinal prosthesis in the world. It is the only retinal prosthesis approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is approved for use in the European Economic Area (CE Mark) and is available in some European countries.
Argus II induces visual perception in blind patients with electrical pulses to stimulate the retina’s remaining cells, which results in perceptions of light patterns in the brain. It can positively impact a blind person’s ability to conduct routine daily activities, such as recognising shapes or large objects, locating people, identifying the location of doorways, and following lines or edges. Ultimately, it is designed to allow Argus II users to live their daily lives with more confidence.
“This is one of the most exciting medical developments I have witnessed in my career,” said Robert Devenyi, MD, FACS, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Centre and Director of Retinal Services at the University Health Network (Toronto). “The Argus II offers so much hope and possibility for patients with degenerative eye disease.”
