Can Retinal Implants Restore Vision?
From Macular Chats by BrightFocus Foundation
January 28, 2026 · 17 min
About this episode
This episode explores the potential of retinal implants to restore vision for individuals with retinal degeneration.
What if an artificial retina or another type of electronic implant could restore vision? Unlike current therapies that only slow the progression of the disease, retinal prostheses are designed to actually restore vision for people with retinal degeneration. In this Macular Chats episode, we explore this emerging field and break down the different types of implants in development, including the PRIMA implant—the only retinal prosthesis currently in production and the first viable treatment for geographic atrophy from AMD—and look ahead to what’s next in the research pipeline.
Topics covered
- retinal implants
- vision restoration
- retinal degeneration
- PRIMA implant
- AMD
- medical technology
Keywords
- retinal implants
- vision restoration
- retinal degeneration
- PRIMA implant
- AMD
- medical research
- prostheses
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BrightFocus Foundation
Products: PRIMA implant
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