Stanford Scientist’s PRIMA Implant Restores Vision to Blind Adults

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 9, 2026

A retinal implant developed by Stanford researcher Daniel Palanker has enabled adults with age-related macular degeneration to significantly improve their vision, allowing them to read and recognize faces. Following promising results in a European clinical trial, the company Science Corp. plans to seek regulatory approval in Europe this summer and is pursuing expedited access in the U.S. through a humanitarian device exemption.

A retinal implant developed by a Stanford University researcher is enabling some adults with vision loss to read, recognize faces, and engage in activities such as creating artwork. The device, known as the PRIMA retinal implant system, is a small prosthetic roughly the size of a contact lens. It has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials conducted in Europe involving patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness affecting approximately one million people in the United States.

The implant was created by Stanford ophthalmologist and electrical engineer Daniel Palanker. It consists of a 2-by-2-millimeter disc embedded with 370 photosensitive pixels, which is surgically inserted just behind the retina. After implantation, patients wear augmented-reality glasses that include a camera to capture images. These images are then projected onto the implant as near-infrared light. The solar-powered pixels within the device convert this light into electrical signals, stimulating the remaining retinal cells that relay visual information to the brain.

Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine from a clinical trial involving 32 patients showed that 26 experienced significant vision improvement after one year. On average, these patients improved by five lines on a standard eye chart, enabling many who previously could only perceive the largest line to read large print and perform routine tasks. One participant’s vision improved by as much as 12 lines.

The company commercializing the technology, Science Corp., based in Alameda, California, aims to secure regulatory approval in Europe as early as this summer. While approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remains a future goal, the company is pursuing a humanitarian device exemption to expedite access within the United States.

“Until now, people tried restoring sight and all they got were light and shapes,” Palanker said, emphasizing that the device’s encoding of visual information has allowed the brain to interpret signals as meaningful vision.

Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, called the development “huge” and noted the impact of the technology extends beyond those who receive the implant, offering hope and encouragement to the broader community affected by vision loss.

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