Bionic eye recipients demonstrate clear vision improvements

Results from a clinical trial of a second-generation bionic eye have demonstrated substantial improvement in four participants’ functional vision, daily activities and quality of life over a period of more than two and a half years.

Outcomes from the bionic eye trial, led by the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), the Bionics Institute, The University of Melbourne and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, have been published in the journal Ophthalmology Science. They add to interim results which show that the second-generation bionic eye, developed by Bionic Vision Technologies, provided rapid improvements for four patients with blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) — an inherited retinal disease that is one of the leading causes of vision loss in working-age people.

The bionic eye comprises an electrode array, designed by the Bionics Institute and CERA, which is surgically implanted behind the eye. The electrode receives signals from a video camera mounted on glasses, which stimulate the patient’s retina.

“The camera converts images into electrical pulses delivered by the electrode array that activate retinal cells and create flashes of light called phosphenes to help patients detect edges, shapes and movement,” explained Professor James Fallon, Head of Research at the Bionics Institute.

The new study tracked the patients from the time they received the implant surgery in 2018 to 2021. Its findings demonstrate the device is stable and durable over the longer term, staying in place behind the retina without complication and still having 97% of electrodes functioning 2.7 years after first implant. Furthermore, CERA Associate Professor Penny Allen said patients showed significant improvement in their navigation, mobility and ability to detect objects — in clinical tests, at home and in the community.

“The bionic eye enabled blind patients to locate doorways, avoid obstacles and find items on tabletops,” said Allen, who is principal investigator on the study. “They reported greater confidence in navigation, were more likely to explore new environments and had reduced need for assistance when travelling to the local shops.’’

Allen said participants reported that the bionic eye supplemented long cane and guide dog use, provided safe navigation around people and obstacles, and allowed them to detect waypoints such as trees and lamp posts along navigational routes. “Patients were also able to locate their spouse in a cafe and detect people moving at a train station — things they could not do without using their bionic eye,” she said.

While Bionic Vision Technologies is encouraged by the results of the trial, the company is continuing to refine the vision processing capabilities, usability and wearables of their system.

“We are looking forward to finalise the development of the Generation 3 bionic eye and enter the worldwide pivotal trial and ultimately gain regulatory approval,” said Dr Ash Attia, CEO of Bionic Vision Technologies. “Regulatory approval will allow us to make this important technology available to RP patients, which will positively impact their lives.”