UK patient regains central vision with “bionic eye”

A partially sighted UK pensioner had partly regained his central vision for the first time in nearly a decade after he received a "bionic eye".

The 80-year-old has become the world's first patient with advanced age related dry macular degeneration (AMD) to undergo the procedure.

Around 20 to 25 million people suffer from the condition globally. It is the most common cause of sight loss in the developed world.

Manchester man Ray Flynn's central vision had been deteriorating for the last eight years due to untreatable AMD, which had left him with only peripheral vision, affecting his quality of life.

In a four-hour operation last month, Flynn received a retinal implant, which converts video images captured by a miniature camera in his glasses into a series of electrical impulses transmitted wirelessly to electrodes on the surface of the retina.

The retina's remaining cells are stimulated by the pulsed resulting in the corresponding perception of patterns of light in the brain, which the patient learns to interpret in so as to regain some visual function.

In the three weeks since his system was turned on three weeks ago, Flynn can now make out the outline of people and objects, even with his eyes closed.

The retired engineer, who has peripheral vision also becomes the first human being to make use of combined natural and artificial sight.

Dry AMD, does not affect Flynn's outer vision but is not currently treatable.

According to Flynn, he was taking things slowly as he got used to the system but was already benefiting in his everyday life.

He said, "Before when I was looking at a plant in the garden it was like a honeycomb in the centre of my eye. That has now disappeared. I can now walk round the garden and see things.

"It's definitely improved my vision but I haven't been out and about on a bus yet. I don't think I will for a little while."

Professor Paulo Stanga, consultant ophthalmologist and vitreo-retinal surgeon at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, said, "Mr Flynn's progress is truly remarkable. He is seeing the outline of people and objects very effectively.

"Ray had to do everything with his peripheral vision, it's very tiring, it is exhausting, What we are hoping to achieve is to improve Ray's central vision so he does not have to work so hard with his peripheral vision.

"This is new information that Ray's brain is receiving and his brain now needs to get use to interpreting it.

"He has not given up on losing his central vision. He is a motivated patient and that is crucial."

Prof Stanga added, "As far as I am concerned, the first results of the trial are a total success and I look forward to treating more dry AMD patients with the Argus II as part of this trial. We are currently recruiting four more patients to the trial in Manchester."

"On behalf of the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, we feel privileged to be conducting the world's first study into retinal implants for patients with AMD. This technology is revolutionary and changes patients' lives - restoring some functional vision and helping them to live more independently."

Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman said, "This ground-breaking research highlights the crucial role of the NHS as a test bed for 21st century medicine.

"In investing over £1 billion a year into the National Institute for Health Research, we provide trials like this one with the state-of-the-art facilities and researchers needed to translate scientific advances into real benefits for patients."