Handbook of Bioelectronics (Directly Interfacing Electronics and Biological Systems) || Photovoltaic retinal prosthesis for restoring sight to the blind

摘要： Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the developed world, with an incidence of 1:500 in patients aged 55–64, and 1:8 in patients over 85 [1]. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited disease blinding about 1 in every 4000 individuals much earlier in life [2]. In both of these conditions the photoreceptor layer degenerates, while the inner retinal neurons survive to a large extent [3–5]. Electrically activating these neurons provides an alternative route for visual information and raises hope for the restoration of sight to the blind.