A wireless photovoltaic retinal implant called the PRIMA system is delivering sustained vision gains for patients with geographic atrophy (GA), a leading cause of severe vision loss. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, 3-year data from the PRIMAvera trial showed an average visual acuity improvement of ~30 letters with the device. Notably, natural vision in the implanted eye remained stable, while the untreated eye lost about 1.4 lines of vision over the same period.

The PRIMA system works by pairing a subretinal implant with augmented-reality glasses that capture live video, convert it to near-infrared light, and stimulate retinal cells to mimic natural vision signaling. Patients can control brightness, zoom, and mode — and with training, many reported being able to read menus, use smartphones, and play cards.

By the Numbers:

• 38 patients enrolled; 27 completed 36 months of follow-up

• 80% could read letters, numbers, and words at 12 months

• 50% performed advanced tasks (e.g., smartphone use) between 24–36 months
• 29 serious adverse events (SAEs) total; 24 occurred in the first 6 months
• 68% of patients who experienced an SAE still gained >15 letters of visual acuity

Why it matters: GA has long lacked effective vision-restoration options. With European approval already secured and FDA submission on the horizon, the PRIMA system could represent a meaningful step forward — though experts are calling for comparative safety data, particularly around the seven patient deaths observed during the trial.