Bionic eye implant aims to bring back sight in advanced macular degeneration
NCT ID NCT04676854
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a device called the PRIMA System, which includes an implant placed under the retina and a special visual processor worn by the patient. The goal is to help people with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (geographic atrophy) regain some central vision. Thirty-eight participants aged 60 and older with severe vision loss in both eyes will be implanted and followed for up to 6 years to see if their vision improves and to monitor for any side effects.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 38 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2020
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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60 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Is 60 years or older at the date of inclusion; * Has a confirmed diagnosis of geographic atrophy due to AMD in both eyes; * The study eye has best corrected visual acuity of logMAR 1.2 (20/320) or worse as measured by ETDRS test; * Has an atrophic patch in the study eye including the fovea of at least the implant size (\>4.5 mm2 and \>2.4 mm in minimum diameter); * Understands the constraints of the study and accepts to present for all scheduled follow-up visits; * Patient signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Has cataract in the study eye (with LOCS III scale NO, NC, C or P\>1); (these patients will be asked to have cataract surgery performed prior to enrollment; all other patients will get IOL replacement during the PRIMA implantation); * Underwent intra ocular lens implantation in the study eye within the last month ; * Has a highly myopic study eye (\>26 mm AP); * Has a highly hyperopic study eye (\<20 mm AP); * Has no light perception in either eye; * Has a history of documented choroidal neovascularization in either eye; * Has any signs of exudative AMD including exudative AMD with detachment of retinal pigment epithelium in the central visual field of the study eye; * Has an implanted telescope in one eye; * Has a black IOL in the study eye; * Has any disease (other than study allowed diseases) or condition that affects retinal function of the study eye or the visual system (e.g., central retinal artery/vein occlusion, end-stage diabetic retinopathy, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR), diabetic macular edema (DME), severe Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR), retinal detachment, infectious or inflammatory retinal disease, severe glaucoma, optic neuropathy, etc.) ; * Has any disease or condition that prevents adequate examination (including OCT) of the study eye including, but not limited to media opacities that cannot be resolved prior to implantation. Note, that this criterion is also important for the function of the implant; * Has a corneal endothelial cell count of less than 1000 cells/mm² in the study eye; * Suffers from nystagmus or other ocular motility disorders; * Has any disease or condition that precludes the understanding or communication of the informed consent, study requirements or test protocols (e.g., deafness, severe multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, severe neuritis, etc.); * Has epileptic seizures; * Has a known sensitivity to the contact materials of the implant (iridium oxide, silicon-carbide and titanium); * Has a known allergy to anesthetic drugs; * Presents with hypotonia in the study eye (\<8 mmHg); * Presents with hypertonia in the study eye (\>23 mmHg with treatment); * Has active cancer or a history of intraocular, optic nerve or brain cancer and metastasis; * Is an immune-suppressed subject (e.g., due to HIV positive diagnosis, etc.); * Is a known carrier of multi-resistant microorganisms; * Is receiving anticoagulation therapy that cannot be adapted to allow eye surgery; * Is participating in another investigational drug or device study that may interfere with the PRIMAvera study; * Has a history of chronic or recurrent infection or inflammation that would preclude participation in the study; * Has significant recurrent or chronic inflammations or infections. Specifically, patients with the following disorders are excluded: * Severe chronic and consuming diseases that frequently associated with infection (e.g. Crohn disease, Whipple's disease); * Active inflammation in the area of the eye (e.g. herpes of cornea and/or conjunctiva, recurrent blepharoconjunctivitis, hordeolum, chalazion); * Has a severe psychological disorder; * Does not have the mental capacity to legally sign the informed consent; * Has severe renal, cardiac, hepatic, etc. organ diseases (ASA IV or worse); * Has head dimensions that are incompatible with the PRIMA Glasses; * Has a refraction of study eye higher than + 4 dpt or lower than - 4 dpt for patients with IOL (there is no refraction criteria for phakic patients, since they get an IOL during PRIMA implantation); * Has too high and/or unrealistic expectations (e.g., believes that a benefit is guaranteed or expects normal vision after surgery). The following additional exclusion criteria are applicable for French subjects: * Is a protected person per French law (e.g. is under guardianship, person deprived of their liberty); * Is not affiliated to a mandatory social security program (health insurance).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Augenklinik der Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München
Munich, 80336, Germany
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CHU de Nantes
Nantes, 44093, France
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Centre Monticelli Paradis
Marseille, 13008, France
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Centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil - Service Ophtalmologie
Créteil, 94000, France
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Fondation Ophtalmologique A. De Rothschild
Paris, 75019, France
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Hopital des Quinze Vingts
Paris, 75012, France
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Hôpital Pellegrin
Bordeaux, 33000, France
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Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse CHU de LYON
Lyon, Lyon, 69004, France
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Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular de Barcelona
Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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KNAPPSCHAFTSKLINIKUM SAAR GMBH Augenklinik Sulzbach
Sulzbach, 66280, Germany
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Klinikum Ludwigshafen -Augenklinik
Ludwigshafen am Rhein, 67063, Germany
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Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London, 0207 566 2117, United Kingdom
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Rotterdam Eye Hospital
Rotterdam, 3011 BH, Netherlands
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Università di Roma Tor Vergata - Policlinico Tor Vergata (PTV), Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale - Oftalmologia
Roma, 00133, Italy
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Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn
Bonn, 53127, Germany
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Universitäts-Augenklinik Münster
Münster, 48149, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Klinik fuer Augenheilkunde
Aachen, 52074, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Augenklinik
Hamburg, 20251, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Klinik für Augenheilkunde
Lübeck, 23538, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
Tübingen, 72076, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Ulm
Ulm, 89075, Germany
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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