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Findings from Acute Retinal Stimulation in Blind Patients

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Visual Prosthetics

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Abstract

In acute retinal stimulation experiments retinal stimulators are inserted into the eye, activated, and responses from patients to electrical stimulation are recorded. These tests were done to obtain evidence that the principle of electrical stimulation of the retina works in terms of elicitation of phosphenes or visual perception, respectively. These tests were also done to narrow the parameter range for electrode size and stimulation energy before efforts were undertaken to fabricate a device for chronic stimulation. Results from such tests were also helpful to describe possible perception patterns of patients and also to estimate possible visual acuities after implantation. Usually these tests were done in local anaesthesia so that the patient can respond verbally or by means of an interface to the stimulation. In different experiments rheobase and chronaxie data were reported showing a large variation depending on the device and on individual factors such as the disease state or the proximity between the electrode and the retina. Possible spatial and temporal resolution data were calculated from such experiments demonstrating that the concept of retinal stimulation in blind RP subjects can really help to restore some useful visual function in such patients.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Walter (2005) unpublished observation.

Abbreviations

DTL:

Dawson Trick, Litzkow

I:

Intensity e.g. current for stimulation

LP:

Light probe

MUX:

Multiplexer

PC:

Computer system

PS:

Power source

RCS:

Royal College of Surgeons

RI:

Response interface

RP:

Retinitis pigmentosa

SIU:

Stimulus isolation unit

STIM:

Stimulator

T:

Time

VD:

Video documentation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Peter Walter

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  1. Peter Walter
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  2. Gernot Roessler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Walter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Lions Vision Research & Rehabilitation C, Johns Hopkins University School of Medic, 550 N. Broadway, Baltimore, 21205-2020, Maryland, USA

    Gislin Dagnelie

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Walter, P., Roessler, G. (2011). Findings from Acute Retinal Stimulation in Blind Patients. In: Dagnelie, G. (eds) Visual Prosthetics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0754-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0754-7_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0753-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0754-7

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