Bionic eye implant aims to bring back central sight in rare vision loss
NCT ID NCT07266584
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study tests a device called PRIMA, which is implanted under the retina to help people with inherited retinal diseases like Stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa see better. The trial will enroll 5 adults with severe central vision loss and measure improvements in visual acuity and safety. The goal is to gather data to support further development of the implant.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- PRIMA retinal implant (a device placed under the retina to stimulate remaining cells)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a way to improve central vision in people with severe vision loss from inherited retinal diseases.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early study with only 5 participants, so results may not apply widely. The implant is a device and carries surgical risks, and vision improvement may be modest or not occur.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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 5 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2031
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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18 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: 1. Is 18 years or older at the date of inclusion; 2. Has a confirmed diagnosis of inherited retinal degeneration with the macula affected in both eyes; 3. The study eye has best corrected visual acuity of logMAR 1.2 (20/320) or worse as measured by ETDRS test; 4. 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); 5. Understands the constraints of the study and accepts to present for all scheduled follow-up visits; 6. Signed the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. 1\. Has cataract in the study eye (with LOCS III scale NO, NC, C or P\>1); (these patients will need to have cataract surgery performed prior to completion of baseline testing; all other patients will get IOL replacement during the PRIMA Stim implantation); 2. Underwent intraocular lens implantation in the study eye within the last month prior to enrolment (this corresponds to 4 weeks or 28 days) ; 3. Has an implanted IOL in the study eye and a refraction of the study eye outside of -4D; +4D limit (this criterion is not relevant for phakic eyes) 4. Has a highly myopic study eye (\>26 mm AP); 5. Has no light perception in either eye; 6. Has a history of documented choroidal neovascularization in either eye; 7. Has any signs of exudative AMD including exudative AMD with detachment of retinal pigment epithelium in the central visual field of the study eye; 8. Has an implanted telescope in one eye; 9. Has a black IOL in the study eye; 10. 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 oedema (DME), severe Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR), retinal detachment, infectious or inflammatory retinal disease, severe glaucoma, optic neuropathy, etc.) ; 11. Has any disease or condition that prevents adequate examination (including Optical Coherence Tomography (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; 12. Has a corneal endothelial cell count of less than 1000 cells/mm² in the study eye; 13. Suffers from nystagmus or other ocular motility disorders; 14. 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.); 15. Has uncontrolled epileptic seizures; 16. Has a known sensitivity to the contact materials of the implant (iridium oxide, silicon-carbide and titanium); 17. Has a known allergy to anaesthetic drugs; 18. Presents with hypotonia in the study eye (\<8 mmHg); 19. Presents with hypertonia in the study eye (\>23 mmHg with treatment); 20. Has active cancer or a history of intraocular, optic nerve or brain cancer and metastasis; 21. Is an immune-suppressed participant (e.g., due to HIV positive diagnosis, etc.); 22. Is a known carrier of multi-resistant microorganisms; 23. Is receiving anticoagulation therapy that cannot be adapted to allow eye surgery; 24. Is participating in another investigational drug or device study that may interfere with the PRIMAlia study; 25. Has a history of chronic or recurrent infection or inflammation that would preclude participation in the study; 26. 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); 27. Has a severe psychological disorder; 28. Does not have the mental capacity to legally sign the informed consent; 29. Has severe renal, cardiac, hepatic, etc. organ diseases (ASA IV or worse); 30. Has head dimensions that are incompatible with the PRIMA Companion glasses; 31. Has too high and/or unrealistic expectations (e.g., believes that a benefit is guaranteed or expects normal vision after surgery). 32. Physical constraints making use of PRIMA or rehabilitation impossible 33. Participant who, in the opinion of the investigator, is not suitable for participation in the study
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Sydney Eye Hospital
RECRUITINGSydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a statin nanoparticle save sight in retinitis pigmentosa?
- Can stem cells restore vision in stargardt disease? a First-in-Human trial aims to find out
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- Could stem cells restore sight in damaged eyes?