Commonly Asked Questions

What is a prosthesis?

A prosthesis is a man-made device that is designed to replace or improve the function of a damaged part of the body. For example, a cochlear prosthesis can be implanted within the inner ear to help restore auditory function in a hearing impaired individual.

What kind of vision will a retinal prosthesis give to a blind patient?

A retinal prosthesis will not restore normal vision completely. Our hope is to improve the quality of life for visually impaired patients by providing increased mobility, confidence and safety when navigating through unfamiliar environments. Once we have accomplished this goal, the device can be modified to deliver much more complicated visual information.

How does Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affect vision?

In AMD, the photoreceptor cells responsible for fine detail central vision are destroyed. In many cases, vision may become distorted and color vision may be altered. Because of the loss of fine detail in the central part of vision, a person may have difficulty with certain tasks such as reading or discerning faces.

Who is susceptible to AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration is typically found in older individuals and is the leading cause of legal blindness in people over the age of 65 in the United States and throughout the industrialized world. The disease is more common in those persons of light skin complexion and who have a family history of AMD.

Is there any treatment for AMD?

There is no proven treatment for the “dry” form of AMD. For the “wet” form of AMD, some people are helped by laser treatment. To help stop the bleeding, laser photocoagulation attempts to seal the leaky blood vessels that grow beneath the retina.

How does Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) affect vision?

Initially, a person with RP may complain that their vision is poor at night time. As the disease progresses, day time vision also becomes affected. At first, mid-peripheral (side) vision is affected and eventually this progresses to envelop central vision.

Who is susceptible to RP?

The disease is hereditary and there are many different genetic patterns as well as degrees of severity. Some patterns are difficult to trace within a family. Some patients develop the disease even though they have no affected family members.