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Surgeon reports positive outcomes of retinal prosthesis in two patients
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BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — The first two patients implanted with the Argus II retinal prosthesis at a hospital in Camposampiero, Italy, are doing well and are happy with the results, according to Marzio Chizzolini, MD, head of the ophthalmology department.
The first implantation of the Argus II (Second Sight Medical Products) was performed in Italy in 2011 at the University of Pisa. Following CE mark approval and entry into the market, the implant has been used in 11 patients in Europe — six in Italy and five in Germany.
Marzio
Chizzolini
“The Argus system is continuously evolving. The first prototype had eight electrodes, and the current implant has gone up to 60,” Chizzolini said at the Bassano Ophthalmology Meeting.
In Chizzolini's opinion, a great asset of this technology is that it is tailored to the individual patient before surgery and can be adjusted several times postoperatively. The 60 electrodes are independent and can be programmed to receive different quantities of energy to selectively stimulate cells in the optic nerve fibers according to the individual patient’s needs. Over time, as the patient’s brain adapts to the device and "learns" to respond to visual stimuli, recalibration may be necessary.
The implantation procedure is not complicated, but it is delicate and requires precision, patience and care, Chizzolini said.
“Most of the work is done after surgery. Patients have to go through a long learning and re-education process. Some of them, like one of my patients, had been blind for decades,” he said.
His patients have very good perceptual thresholds and can differentiate well between light and shadow and can see doors and windows. One of them was able to independently set a table.
Disclosure: Chizzolini reports no relevant financial disclosures.