On 03/07/2016,
A major announcement for people with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that affects 20,000 to 40,000 people in France.
French society Pixium Vision, which develops innovative bionic vision systems to enable blind patients to live more independently, announced at the end of February the 1D successful implementation of IRIS II, a epiretinal implant equipped with 150 electrodes.
The implantation was performed by Dr Weber, head of the ophthalmology service at Nantes University Hospital.
The 58-year-old patient, who became blind as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, said he saw his first light signals. He is currently starting his rehabilitation.
Placed on the retina, the implant is connected to a camera, inserted in a pair of glasses, by a wireless system.
Marketing in mid 2016
In December 2015, Pixium Vision filed a CE marking file. Subject to obtaining it, the commercial launch of IRIS II should begin around mid-2016.
The main competitor of Pixium Vision, the American Second Sight, had already performed a retinal implantation last year, but this one, less powerful, was equipped with 60 electrodes. In addition, unlike the American model, IRIS II is removable, which makes it possible to replace it with a possible better technical solution.
Photo credit: @ batum97 – thinkstockphotos.fr
