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			The U.S. Department of Energy is currently working on the Artificial Retina Project. This collaborative, multi-institutional effort's goal is to develop an implantable microelectronic retinal device that restores useful vision to people blinded by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The basic concept for the retinal prosthesis is to bypass the photoreceptor (light-receiving) cells destroyed by retinal disease and transmit light signals directly to the brain. Three retinal prosthetic devices are now in testing or development. A first model was implanted in six patients, who are now able to distinguish light from dark and localize large objects. A second, more compact device containing more electrodes (for greater visual resolution) is currently undergoing pre-clinical studies and awaits approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for human trials. A third, far less invasive and higher-resolution model is under development. The ultimate goal is to provide vision that enables facial recognition and large-print reading vision, using materials that will last for a lifetime. None of the devices are yet available to the public. For information about eligibility for future studies, call Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. at (818) 833-5092. For more information on the project, see the web site (ArtificialRetina.energy.gov). To subscribe to the free newsletter, visit the web site or call (865) 574-0597. As a special note to the article, they are looking for individuals with very little or no site to participate in these studies.
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