- In April 2024, Pixium Vision, a pioneer in retinal neurostimulation technologies, announced successful mid-stage clinical trial results for its PRIMA bionic vision system in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The device demonstrated significant improvements in light perception and object localization. This milestone reinforces Pixium’s role in advancing vision restoration and marks a major step toward commercial approval in Europe and other regions
- In March 2024, Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., a key player in visual prosthetics, announced a collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to advance its Orion cortical visual prosthesis system, which bypasses the retina to stimulate the visual cortex directly. The partnership is focused on refining the system’s resolution and AI-driven image processing capabilities, enhancing usability for patients with complete blindness
- In February 2024, Bionic Vision Technologies (BVT), based in Australia, secured a new round of funding from public and private investors to scale the development of its Gen-3 Bionic Eye system. The new device aims to offer improved visual acuity and reduced surgical complexity. The funding will support additional human trials across Australia and Asia-Pacific, advancing the company’s path toward market readiness
- In January 2024, Monash Vision Group, a consortium of Australian researchers, announced that their Gennaris Bionic Vision System, designed to stimulate the brain's visual cortex, received regulatory clearance to begin first-in-human trials. The system is unique in that it requires no retinal functionality, offering hope for patients with optic nerve damage or degenerative conditions beyond retinal repair
- In December 2023, India’s Sankara Nethralaya Eye Hospital, in collaboration with a U.S.-based medtech startup, launched an initiative to bring affordable, non-invasive bionic eye prototypes to clinical trials by 2025. The project aims to address vision loss in underserved populations using AI-enhanced wearable technology, signaling a shift toward accessibility and global expansion in the bionic eye market
