[Restoration of vision by retinal prosthesis]

Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration destroy photoreceptor cells within the eye in the outermost layer of the retina, whereas cells of the inner layers of the retina often remain intact. Retinal prosthesis aims to replace the faded function of photoreceptor cells by means of microelectronics. The aim of the prostheses being developed is to bypass the atrophied layers of the retina and to convey visual information to the functional portion of the retina. A retinal prosthesis is not able to restore normal vision, but will make orientation easier and thus greatly facilitate the daily activities of a blind person.