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Long-term stimulation by active epiretinal implants in normal and RCD1 dogs
Dilek Güven1, James D Weiland, Gildo Fujii
1Doheny Retina Institute, Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Journal of Neural Engineering
|May 7, 2005
Summary
This study found that chronic electrical stimulation using an epiretinal prosthesis did not harm the retinas of dogs. Even at high stimulation levels, no adverse effects were observed in histological or functional evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Epiretinal prostheses aim to restore vision in blind individuals by electrically stimulating the retina.
- Assessing the safety and long-term effects of retinal electrical stimulation is crucial for device development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and potential adverse effects of chronic electrical stimulation of the retina using an epiretinal prosthesis in a canine model.
- To determine if stimulation parameters used in epiretinal prostheses cause histological or functional retinal damage.
Main Methods:
- An epiretinal prosthesis was implanted in dogs (blind and sighted).
- Chronic electrical stimulation was applied for varying durations at different levels (0.05 and 0.1 mC cm(-2)).
- Electroretinograms (ERGs), fundus photography, histological, and morphometric analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- No inflammatory reactions, neovascularization, or hemorrhage were observed during follow-up.
- Electroretinograms (ERGs) remained unchanged throughout the study.
- Histological and morphometric evaluations showed no significant retinal damage or changes related to electrical stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Chronic electrical stimulation of the canine retina with an epiretinal prosthesis at up to 0.1 mC cm(-2) is safe.
- The tested stimulation levels do not induce adverse histological or functional changes in the retina.
- Epiretinal prosthesis technology shows promise for vision restoration without causing retinal harm.