Artificial Retinal Implant (Bioelectronic Eye Implant) Bionic Eye Implant
Artificial retinal implants in Turkey. Also known as the implantation of chips into the retina, patients with severe visual impairment or night blindness can undergo this procedure.
The operation has been performed so far on 170 patients in the world, including Turkey, and perhaps the most important results that were reached were in the cases of corneal cloud patients (a disease that occurs due to inflammation in the cornea and then heals that prevents the passage of light), where the patients were able to obtain results Very satisfactory, which led to a radical improvement in their lives and their return to their normal lives.
The smart eye consists of two main parts. The first (electronic part) is a set of electronic pickups in the vicinity of the eye.
The other part is within the eye on the surface of the retina.
The retina consists of an orange layer containing light-sensitive neurons, and in the central region of the retina there is the so-called central point on which the other part of the smart eye is fixed.
The goal of using this system is to convert the light taken through electronic systems into nerve signals by a camera that saves what you see and sends it to the brain. This technology targets patients with new visual impairment as a result of damage to retinal cells.
Bioelectronics (artificial retinal implants)
They are implants that are placed in the tissue above the retina while ensuring the continuation of the cells under these implants in many cases.
There are two types of systems, especially those that are located above the macular in the retina.
And both have started to be applied in the United States, Europe and Turkey.
Thanks to this technology, many blind people have been able to see again.
The operation can also be performed on patients with night blindness, in which the patient loses his ability to see with darkness, as the disease results from a defect that affects the light receptors in the retina.
This disease can lead the patient to blindness, as it affects the sensitivity of the eye in receiving light and reduces the speed of adaptation of the eye to the change in the amount of light, and may also lead to keratoconus.
After the bioelectronic retinal implant procedure, the patient needs at least 40 rehabilitation sessions to reach an acceptable level of vision, but unfortunately he will not be able to distinguish colors yet and will not have a fully detailed vision of foreign bodies,
As an explanation for this, for example: that when the patient looks at himself in the mirror, he will be able to see clearly, but he will not be able to distinguish fine details such as the color or shape of the eye.
The function of the bioelectronic retina is to mitigate the effects of blindness and enable the patient to improve his life and dependence on himself. For example, while entering a room, the patient can distinguish the door from the chair and other large objects, and enables him to walk in the road and distinguish the passage of a car from This makes it easier for the patient to face many of the obstacles that he faced with total or significant vision loss.
Who are the candidates for the artificial (electronic) retina implant?
Currently, the implantation of an artificial bionic eye is only available for patients with night blindness or patients with retinitis pigmentosa as it is known. Especially patients with advanced stages of the disease.
These patients will undergo a light sensitivity test to see how sensitive the retina is to light.
In addition to other electrophysiological tests.
What are the conditions that must be met by the patient who will have the artificial retina implant?
- To be a patient with night blindness in the advanced stages.
- The patient's best level of vision is to see the movement of the hand near the eye or even less.
- Optical sensory cells and optical conduction cells must be completely intact.
- The patient must be over 25 years old.
- The absence of any contraindication to anesthesia.
- This process must also be done with the patient's consent.
- He must also undergo rehabilitation sessions to follow up on the post-operative treatment.
At the moment, it will not be possible to perform the operation for patients with other diseases that may cause vision disturbances.
How is the artificial retina implant procedure performed?
The bioelectronic artificial retina transplant is performed under complete anesthesia of the patient.
Where the bioelectronic eye consists of two parts as mentioned above, where an incision is made in the white of the eye in the part that is located under the eye muscles and an electronic receiver is installed through the same laparoscopic technique used in vitrectomy.
Three electron receptors are then attached to three different areas of the white tissue of the eye through a tube with a diameter of no more than 1 mm.
After installing these three receptors. An electrode (electrode) is attached to the macula of the retina.
Which is the best point in which vision occurs in the retina.
After completing the installation of these receptors and the electrode, each of them is tested separately to ensure that there are no defects.
Then, the place where the surgical instruments were inserted is sutured and the tissues are restored to what they were before the operation. So that it is not possible to distinguish whether the operation is performed or not for those who see the patient.
Recovery period after electro-retinal implant surgery
Like any eye operation, the eye needs about a week to recover.
During which the patient uses a number of treatments in the form of eye drops, while ensuring that no work is done that is stressful for the patient in general and for the eye in particular.
After the redness of the eye is completely gone, the patient begins his sessions with a specialized engineer who calibrates each of the receptors and electrodes. that are fitted to fit the patient's vision.
The patient must then wear glasses and carry a small bag containing an electronic device that records everything the patient sees.
To be examined by specialists and perform the necessary rehabilitation for the patient to be able to distinguish things again.
It should be noted that one of the Studies by the American Academy of Retinal Surgery According to the results of clinical trials over a period of three years, the safety and effectiveness of the bionic eye implant in the long term has been proven, which represents a hope for the restoration of vision for many blind people.
What is the percentage of vision after implantation of the artificial electronic retina?
In the beginning, scanning is focused on large objects (coarse scanning) so that the patient can see large objects. Then with the passage of time and the increase of the experience, the accuracy of the scan increases so that the patient can see smaller things and so on.
For example, as we have said: When entering a room to distinguish large objects and the presence of seats and their number, are there people in the room, and who are these people, then distinguishing the presence of glass on the table top, then the presence of other details such as shadows, and so on.
Details begin to increase gradually. However, fully discerning the details and obtaining a normal human vision is currently not possible. But the patient will notice a great progress from not seeing to seeing things in detail, even if they are not 100 percent complete.
Which will greatly improve his life and allow him to return to a normal life without having to rely on anyone.
we are in Bimaristan center We assure you the best center to perform this delicate operation. Bimaristan Medical Center remains your first choice for treatment in Turkey.
We direct you to the best expert specialists in all fields, we break the language barrier, Arab specialist doctors will help you communicate with your doctor, we help you book an appointment in the most important and latest hospitals in Turkey,
We provide our services throughout Turkey,
We will be with you step by step towards recovery.
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Do not hesitate to contact us, Bimaristan Your Family Center in Turkey. You can also read more articles likeStem cell transplantation for low vision orCorneal transplant without stitches Addition to treatment cataract oramblyopia Using the latest technology in Turkey on our website.