Retinal DiseaseASR DeviceNote To PatientsImplantationSurgeryFAQ


NEWS: We are happy to have the Optobionics website back up.  The original Optobionics Corporation has stopped operations.  However, Dr. Chow has acquired the Optobionics name and the Artificial Silicon Retina (ASR) implants and will be reorganizing a new company under the Optobionics name.

If you are a patient with Retinitis Pigmentosa and would be interested in whether your eye condition may be responsive to ASR chip  stimulation, you may contact us using the Contact Us tab or call us at (630) 858-4411  (Please be patient as it may take us a while to respond to you).





 

Note To Patients

     The ASR chip has now been implanted in 42 patients with RP.  To date, although visual sensations have been noted by some patients at the location of the chip, the most exciting development has been the occurrence of what appears to be a neurotrophic rescue effect resulting in a degree of vision recovery that has included visual acuity, contrast and color perception, and expansion of the visual field.  The degree of vision recovery has been variable depending on the patient.  Additional animal studies have shown an up-regulation of specific neurotrophic rescue factors resulting from ASR chip stimulation.  A paper containing results of the first six patients, entitled The Artificial Silicon Retina Microchip for the Treatment of Vision Loss From Retinitis Pigmentosa, has been published in the April 2004 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.  The results of animal studies supporting a neurotrophic rescue effect was published in the February 2007 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science entitled Stimulation via a Subretinally Placed Prosthetic Elicits Central Activity and Induces a Trophic Effect on Visual Responses.

* Please note that the ASR microchip relies on the presence of some viable retina to stimulation to occur.  As a result, the ASR chip will not be able to stimulate retinas where total retinal damage has occurred and will not help where the optic nerve of the seeing portion of the brain has been damaged.  Such latter conditions include eyes with severe retinal scarring, end-stage glaucoma or optic nerve diseases, retinal artery or vein occlusions, blindness caused by stroke or other injuries to the seeing part of the brain.
     In retinopathy of prematurity (RLF and ROP), the ASR microchip cannot stimulate the retina if an irreparable “funnel detachment” of the retina has occurred.
 
Degenerated

 

 

 

    
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