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Being able to restore sight to people with impaired vision could greatly improve quality of life for many people. Many things in our world are designed for use by people with normal vision. To improve vision in patients could be life-changing.

In February 2013, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the first artificial retina for use in human patients. The artificial retina helps take over the function of light-sensing cells in the retina, and sends that information to the brain. The device, called the Argus II, uses special glasses that contain a video camera and recording device. The glasses send the recorded information to patient’s eye to process. The Argus II was approved for patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder in which light-sensing photoreceptor cells are degraded over time.

The Argus II received humanitarian approval, which limits the number of people eligible to use the device until it has been proven safe and effective. The Humanitarian approval is reserved for devices to treat diseases affecting fewer than 4000 people. This special approval makes it easier for companies to target rare disorders, and get treatments to patients more quickly. While the Argus II does not fully restore vision, it helps patients to complete tasks in daily life more easily by improving their ability to sense light.

Artificial retina devices like the Argus II have the potential to help many people. The receptors in the eye are crucial for good vision. When cells containing these receptors are unable to function, the eye cannot process information and send it to the brain. Finding a way to artificially replace damaged cells and receptors may be the only way to restore vision.