During preliminary clinical trials, patients officially recognized as blind received retinal implants developed by Science Corporation. The chips restored their vision, enabling them to read books and recognize faces.
"As far as I know, this is the first instance where blind patients have reliably demonstrated the ability to read fluently," said Max Hodak, the CEO who previously served as the president of Elon Musk's Neuralink.
The device, named Prima, is a small photoelectric chip that is surgically implanted beneath the retina. It works in conjunction with a special pair of glasses equipped with a built-in camera that sends light signals to the implanted device, allowing it to stimulate the retina.
In September 2024, Musk announced that his company Neuralink had developed a new implant called Blindsight. It aims to help people who are blind from birth regain their vision.