Henry Ford Health Systems

Bionics and Vision Lab

Universität Tübingen

Zrenner Lab

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

Bionic Vision Lab

University of Washington

Vision + Cognition Group

ETH Zurich

Second Sight Medical Products

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

BioElectronic Vision Lab

USC Artificial Retina Project

University of Southern California (USC)

Bioelectric Research Lab

Johns Hopkins University

Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics

IntelliMicro Medical Co., Ltd.

Golden Eye Bionics, LLC

Duke University

Argus I

Argus I was the first-generation prototype of an epiretinal implant manufactured by Second Sight Medical Products.

Argus II

The Argus II is a retinal prosthesis device developed by Second Sight Medical Products, designed for individuals with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition characterized by severe vision impairment. As an epiretinal implant, it is placed directly on the retina's surface and consists of a small camera on eyeglasses that captures visual data. This data is processed by a portable unit and transmitted wirelessly to an electrode array in the eye, stimulating the retina's remaining cells to send visual information to the brain.

Approved by the FDA in 2013 and previously granted the CE Mark in 2011 in Europe, the Argus II was the first retinal implant to receive these certifications, allowing users to perform basic visual tasks.

However, in 2019, Second Sight discontinued the Argus II due to financial challenges, shifting their focus to the development of the [Orion Visual Cortical Prosthesis System](/devices/orion), intended to stimulate the brain's visual cortex directly.

a brief electrical signal used by neurons to transmit information

an undesirable medical occurrence during a clinical study or treatment

an age-related disease that damages the macula and progressively reduces central vision

the ability of a material or device to function without causing an unacceptable biological response

the degree to which a model reflects known biological structure, mechanisms, or behavior

an electrical pulse with two phases of opposite polarity

a retinal neuron that relays signals from photoreceptors to ganglion cells

severe vision loss that may still include some remaining sight

clouding of the eye's lens that can blur or dim vision

the shape and structural features of a cell

treatment that uses living cells to replace, repair, or support damaged tissue

the folded outer layer of the brain involved in perception, thought, and voluntary action

the amount of electric charge delivered per unit electrode area

an action intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or manage a health condition

a research study in people that evaluates a medical intervention

a photoreceptor specialized for daylight, color, and detailed vision

blindness or severe vision loss that is present from birth

the ability to detect differences between lighter and darker parts of a scene

a device that stimulates the cerebral cortex to create sensory percepts

a U.S. government agency that funds ambitious research and technology development

a small, early clinical study of a medical device focused on initial safety and functionality

the use of controlled electric current to activate or alter neural activity

the opposition to alternating electrical current at an electrode and its surrounding interface

how effectively an electrode records from or stimulates nearby neurons

the study and measurement of electrical activity in cells and tissues

the formation of a tissue capsule around an implanted material

USC Artificial Retina Project

This profile has not been verified yet. Information presented here may thus be incomplete or inaccurate.

Visual Prostheses

Argus I

epiretinal

Argus II

epiretinal

Home Institution

University of Southern California (USC)

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Commercial Partner

Second Sight Medical Products

Sylmar, CA, USA

Leadership

James D. Weiland, PhD

Co-Director

Mark S. Humayun, PhD, MD

Co-Director

Article Information

February 05, 2024 5:35 AM

The following people contributed to this page:

Daniel L. Rathbun, PhD

Henry Ford Health

Michael Beyeler, PhD

UC Santa Barbara (2019 - present)

Quick Links

Contact Us

This is a community project. Find out more about our team of contributors. If you'd like to contribute, please contact us.

Media Copyright Information

All images used with permission. Introduction graphic: © Getty. Background graphic: © Tracy Spohn/Shutterstock.

USC Artificial Retina Project

WarningWarningThis profile has not been verified yet. Information presented here may thus be incomplete or inaccurate.WarningWarning

Visual Prostheses

Argus I

epiretinal

Argus II

epiretinal

Home Institution

University of Southern California (USC)

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Commercial Partner

Second Sight Medical Products

Sylmar, CA, USA

Leadership

James D. Weiland, PhDverified

Co-Director

Mark S. Humayun, PhD, MD

Co-Director

Article Information

February 05, 2024 5:35 AM

The following people contributed to this page:

Daniel L. Rathbun, PhD

Henry Ford Health

Michael Beyeler, PhDverified

UC Santa Barbara (2019 - present)

Quick Links

Contact Us

This is a community project. Find out more about our team of contributors. If you'd like to contribute, please contact us.

Media Copyright Information

All images used with permission. Introduction graphic: © Getty. Background graphic: © Tracy Spohn/Shutterstock.

This profile has not been verified yet. Information presented here may thus be incomplete or inaccurate.

James D. Weiland, PhD

Michael Beyeler, PhD