Could Blindness from Dry Macular Degeneration Soon Become Treatable?
Most people have heard of hearing implants, artificial hips, robotic surgery. Fewer have heard of technology that helps people see again.
Earlier this year, PRIMA became the first commercially available retinal implant designed to restore useful vision in people with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. As someone who has followed retinal research for years, this is one of the most significant developments I've seen.
What is dry macular degeneration?
The macula is the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision — reading, recognising faces, driving, sewing, watching television, using a phone. In dry AMD, the light-sensitive cells in the macula gradually stop working. Most people with dry AMD have early or intermediate changes and keep useful central vision for many years. In advanced dry AMD, those cells die off altogether. Peripheral vision is usually preserved, but central vision can be severely compromised. Until now, there has been no treatment that restores lost central vision.
It is worth being clear that PRIMA is aimed only at this advanced stage, where central vision has already been lost. It is not a treatment for earlier dry AMD.
What is PRIMA?
PRIMA is an electronic chip, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted underneath the retina. The patient wears glasses fitted with a small camera, which captures the image in front of them and converts it into electrical signals. Those signals stimulate the retinal cells that remain healthy, which then relay information to the brain via the optic nerve — bypassing the damaged part of the retina.
Does it restore normal sight?
No. The image produced is still small and lacks the detail of natural vision. But patients have regained enough central vision to read large print, recognise letters, identify everyday objects, and take up hobbies that had become impossible. For someone who has lost central vision gradually, that's a significant functional gain.
Is it available in the UK?
No, and not for some time. PRIMA has recently gained approval for use in parts of Europe, but it is not currently available in the UK and is not something that we can refer patients for at present. Long-term outcome data is still being gathered.
Why does this matter?
Twenty years ago, we had almost nothing to offer patients with wet macular degeneration. Now, sight-saving injections are routine. PRIMA represents the first generation of technology aimed not at slowing vision loss, but at reversing some of it.
It won't be the final answer. But it's a genuine step, and one worth watching closely.
What this means for you
Whatever comes next for AMD, it will only help people who still have retinal cells worth working with. That's exactly why early detection and regular monitoring matter — arguably more now than ever.
Our EyeSense plan is built around that: tailored monitoring, detailed macular imaging, and a plan for each individual patient. If AMD runs in your family, or you've noticed any change in your vision, it's worth booking an EyeSense assessment.