THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBRETINAL MICROPHOTODIODES FOR REPLACEMENT OF DEGENERATED PHOTORECEPTORS

There are presently several concepts to restore vision in blind or hig hly visually handicapped persons by implanting electronic devices into the eye in order to partially restore vision, Here, the approach to r eplace retinal photoreceptors by a subretinally implanted microphotodi ode array (MPDA) is summarized, A survey is given on the present state of the development of MPDAs, the possibility of in vitro and in vivo tests as well as first results on biocompatibility and histology. Addi tionally, electrophysiological recordings in rabbits and rats are pres ented which have received such subretinal implants.