Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · May 2008
Implantation of episcleral electrodes via anterior orbitotomy for stimulation of the retina with induced photoreceptor degeneration: an in vivo feasibility study on a conceptual visual prosthesis.
A visual prosthesis is a conceptual device designed to harnesses the function of residual afferent neurons in the visual pathway to produce artificial vision. Such implant, when applied to stimulate the vitreous surface of the retina, has proven feasible in producing the perception of light in both animals and humans. However the practicality of such device has been challenged by the difficulty of surgical access and the risks of damaging the neuroretina. Positioning a visual implant over the scleral surface of the eye could present a safer alternative but this stimulation modality has not been tested in diseased retinas and little is known about the altered electrophysiological properties of the retina in influencing the feasibility of such approach. ⋯ This study proves that episcleral stimulation of the retina is a feasible alternative to intraocular approaches for the development of a visual prosthesis for retinas with photoreceptor loss.