The Axorus photoacoustic retinal prosthesis was a preclinical subretinal implant designed to restore vision by converting near-infrared laser pulses into localized ultrasound that stimulates surviving retinal neurons. Flexible carbon-polymer films were implanted in rats and shown to modulate retinal activity and activate downstream visual pathways. Axorus discontinued development of the invasive device in early 2025 in favor of a non-invasive photoacoustic contact-lens system.