Eyes are very significant for human body. It aids human body to perform its tasks with synchronization. Without it, we are not be able to see beauty of this wonderful world.
Eye sight is one of our most vital senses as 80% of what we observe comes via our sense of sight. We require to protect our eyesight to make sure many more years of enjoying your vision. But more than 100,000 people in United States and 1.5 million people globally have RP. Blindness is disturbing result of disease. Most people are officially blind by age 40, with central visual field of less than 20 degrees in diameter.
After more than twenty years of study and growth, Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., foremost developer of retinal prostheses for blind, is content to proclaim that it's Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System has got U.S. market support from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take care individuals with late stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is inherited, degenerative eye disease which causes cruel vision harm and frequently blindness. Progress of RP is not steady. Some people will reveal signs from early years; others may not observe signs until later in life. In general, later the beginning, more speedy is theworsening in sight. Those who don’t haveRP, have 90 degree peripheral vision, whereas some people who have RP have less than 90 degrees.
In healthy eye, rods and cones of retina are specialized cells which convert light into minute electrochemical impulses which are sent through optic nerve into brain, where they are decoded into images. Though, if these subtle photoreceptors are ever damaged, first step in process is disrupted and visual system can’t convert light into images, leading to blindness.
Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, harms these light-sensitive cells. People with RP experience regular decrease in their vision as photoreceptor cells—rods and cones—of retina slowly degenerate, causing steady loss of side and night vision and, ultimately, central vision and colour. Many patients turn into completely blind in both eyes.
There has been no efficient treatment for RP—till now.
After two decades of progress and testing and more than $200 million in funding, FDA approved a new technology for severe RP in 2013 which combined surgically implanted 60-electrode retinal prosthesis which gets signals from pair of external video camera-facilitated glasses with video processing unit which is put at waist or carried. This agreement follows European agreement in 2011 and unanimous recommendation by FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel in 2012 that this innovative product be made accessible to treat RP patient population in United States.
Retinal system works when video unit converts images from a tiny camera into electronic data which is wirelessly transmitted to retinal prosthesis, that comprises the antenna and electrodes which replace degenerated cells in retina. Here, data are converted into small electrical impulses which stimulate retina’s remaining internal neurons, consequential in equivalent perceptions of light and images in brain. People then study to understand these patterns of light and in so doing get back some visual function.
With such thoughtful vision loss as happens with late-stage RP, retinal implant won’t restore absolute vision, but it does permit people to notice light and dark in environment also recognize position or movement of people and objects.
Retinal prosthesis system is agreed for people who are 25 years and older and have rigorous to profound RP with exposed light perception—they can observe light, but not direction that from where it is coming from or no light perception in both eyes.
What this new retinal implant system does is permit people to regain their freedom of being capable of performing routine activities. Effects from the scientific study of 30 participants who got “bionic eyes” reported which most were able to do basic activities better with prosthesis than without it, comprising walking on sidewalk devoid of stepping off curb; matching grey, black and white socks; and identifying big letters, sentences and words.
Retinal prosthesis is surely a game changer in sight-affecting ailments and it symbolizes a vast step forward for thousands of people who had been with no any offered alternatives for treating their blindness.