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A woman who described herself as an “avid bookworm” before losing her sight is able to read again after taking part in a world-first study.
Sheila Irwin, from Wiltshire, was one of 38 patients from five countries included in a clinical trial to test Prima, a 2mm x 2mm bionic eye implant.
This device is designed to help people suffering from geographic atrophy (Sing), an advanced stage related to dry age macular degeneration ,amd), for re-reading and writing using so-called “artificial Vision,
During the test, a chip was fitted under the layer of light-sensitive tissue in the eye called the retina. To see and write words, patients wear augmented-reality glasses with a video camera, which the chip uses to transmit information to a pocket computer.
Artificial intelligence in computers processes the information into an electrical signal that is sent to the optic nerve and the brain. The zoom feature can also enlarge letters.
The procedures took place at Moorfields Eye Hospital London About three years ago.
The chip was activated about a month after the operation, after which patients underwent intensive rehabilitation to help them interpret signals and learn to read again.
Ms Irwin said she took part in the trial to help people in the future, and could now read her prescriptions, do crosswords and read the ingredients on cans.
“I wanted to take part in research to help future generations and my optician suggested I contact Moorfields,” she said.
“Before getting the implants, it was like having two black discs inside me eyesWith external distortion.
“I was an avid bookworm, and I wanted her back.”
Ms Irwin said she did not feel any pain during the operation, which took place in 2022.
“I was nervous, excited about all this stuff,” she said. “There was no pain during the operation, but you knew very well what was happening.
“It’s a new way of seeing with your eyes, and when I started looking at a letter it was extremely exciting. Learning to read again is not easy, but the more hours you put in, the more I learn.”
Ms. Irwin now enjoys challenging herself with reading.
“The team at Moorfields have given me ‘look at your prescription’ challenges, which are always small,” he said.
“I like challenging myself, trying to see the little things written on the boxes, doing crosswords.
“It’s made a huge difference. Reading takes you to another world. I’m definitely more optimistic.”
Ms. Irwin was diagnosed with amd more than 15 years ago, but says she hasn’t let the condition stop her from living her life.
She said: “At first, I noticed I couldn’t assess things when I was driving – I kept hitting the pavement. I was told I had age-related macular degeneration.
“When I sent my driver’s license back 15 years ago I cried all day, but then I said to myself, ‘Move on and get on with things.’
“I can’t watch TV very well, but it’s still on in the background. I don’t let anything stop me. I have lots of friends, and I socialize quite a bit; we meet in the pub.
“And this country is amazing – I get great help with transportation, I still live alone and want to be independent.”
Symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
NHS
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central part of your vision, not the edges (peripheral vision).
Other symptoms include:
- seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
- being sensitive to bright light
- seeing flashing lights
- seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations)
amd Causes changes to the macula, the central part of the retina, which plays an important role in vision. While GA, which affects about five million people globally, can lead to complete vision loss due to melting of the central macula.
Experts estimate that nearly one in four people is legally blind. UK is GA from amd,
Developers from US-based medtech company Prima Science The corporation is now working to secure regulatory approval for the device.
Mahi Muqit, senior vitreoretinal consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, said he hoped this “life-changing” technology could one day be available. NHS,
“I have to say, it’s a complete paradigm shift,” he said. “You talk to surgeons UK Everyone I work with is very excited about this particular technology.
“You know this technology will be scalable.”
He added: “These are elderly patients who were no longer able to read, write or recognize faces because of vision loss. They previously couldn’t even look at vision charts. They’ve gone from being in the dark to regaining the use of their vision, and studies have shown that reading is one of the things that patients with progressive vision loss miss most.”
Conclusion, published in The New England Journal of Medicinesuggest that 84 percent of patients in the trial were able to read letters, numbers and words when using Prima, and could, on average, read five lines on a vision chart – before having the device implanted, some people could not even see a chart.