Via The Atlantic:
There hasn’t been much that science has been able to do to help those who suffer from RP. While those afflicted with deafness might be able to turn to devices like cochlear implants to improve their hearing, those who suffer from retinal degeneration haven’t been so lucky. Until now.
Enter the Argus II, a retinal prosthesis. Since RP affects only the retina, leaving the optic nerve intact, the bionic eye is able to substitute for the eye’s natural photoreceptors by directly stimulating the retina’s remaining cells — which in turn pass the signal to the optic nerve. The device, developed by the firm Second Sight and already approved for use in Europe, just got approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
The U.S. Just Got Its First Bionic Eye – Megan Garber – The Atlantic