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"      Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a retinal implant that partially restores vision in patients with a rare form of blindness. The Argus II, a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award-winning device, is the first treatment available for people with retinitis pigmentosa (RP)\u2014a genetic disease where the eye&amp;#039;s retina degrades over time, eventually leading to blindness in some cases. As PM explained back in October, the Argus II uses a sunglass-mounted camera to capture an image, then translates the image into a pattern of signals. The signals travel to an electrode array implanted at the back of the eye. When the electrodes fire, they stimulate the retinal cells that, in a healthy eye, would collect light. The brain interprets those pulses as an image. The artificial retina has already been improving life for people like Barbara Campbell, a New York City resident who had been nearly blinded by retinitis pigmentosa. Campbell has been participating in a small clinical trial for the Argus II for three years now, and says the device helps her to navigate the Big Apple. The Argus II can&amp;#039;t fully restore sight to the blind, but most of the study&amp;#039;s 30 participants were able to perform basic activities better when using the device, according to an FDA statement. Those tasks included &amp;quot;locating and touching a square on a white field; detecting the direction of a motion; recognizing large letters, words, or sentences; detecting street curbs; walking on a sidewalk without stepping off; and matching black, grey, and white socks.&amp;quot; Now other patients with RP will have access to the technology. Thanks to the FDA approval, the company that markets the Argus II says the device will be available in clinics across the country later this year. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a11929/fda-approves-the-first-bionic-retina-15130994/>