title: Visual prostheses for the blind.
abstract: After more than 40 years of research, visual prostheses are moving from the laboratory into the clinic. These devices are designed to provide prosthetic vision to the blind by stimulating localized neural populations in one of the retinotopically organized structures of the visual pathway - typically the retina or visual cortex. The long gestation of this research reflects the many significant technical challenges encountered including surgical access, mechanical stability, hardware miniaturization, hermetic encapsulation, high-density electrode arrays, and signal processing. This review provides an introduction to the pathophysiology of blindness; an overview of existing visual prostheses, their advantages and drawbacks; the perceptual effects evoked by electrical stimulation; as well as the role played by plasticity and training in clinical outcomes.
authors: Bionics Institute, 384-388 Albert St East Melbourne, 3002, Victoria, Australia; Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, 384-388 Albert St East Melbourne, 3002, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: rshepherd@bionicsinstitute.org.
authors: Robert K
authors: RK
authors: Shepherd
authors: Mohit N
authors: MN
authors: Shivdasani
authors: David A X
authors: DA
authors: Nayagam
authors: Christopher E
authors: CE
authors: Williams
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Blamey
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D057488:Visual Prosthesis; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: bionic vision; blindness; electrical stimulation; electrodes; neural prosthesis