Author(s) :

Shaarda Krishna.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Vision Loss causes both social and economic alterations in a great number of individuals. Vision Loss, or Blindness in particular, incurs a large economic burden on the United States. Moreover, blindness and Vision Loss have several negative effects on its population, including economic instability, as well as psychological strain. Vision loss and blindness may result from damage to the retina, optic nerve, or genetic defects. Traditional treatments of vision loss may target these defects or prevent damage to the region in question but are limited in that several of these conditions progress quickly, irreversibly, and cannot be treated once the patient is completely blind. Therefore, treatments using electrical stimulation have been developed to restore vision in blind patients. Such methods include Intracortical, Retinal, Optic Nerve, and Lateral Geniculate Nucleus Prosthesis. The Intracortical Vision Prosthesis (ICVP) is implanted on the visual cortex, the retinal prosthesis on the retina, the optic nerve prosthesis on the surface of the optic nerve, and the LGN prosthesis through Deep Brain stimulation. All four mechanisms attempt to produce phosphenes through electrical stimulation i.e., perceptions of light that imitate an image, but vary in image characteristics; they pose several challenges, however, such as the necessity to be both biocompatible and suitable for implantation without incurring damage. Moreover, socioeconomic effects of complete blindness also limit the ability to test and implement treatments. Overall, vision prostheses have become increasingly developed, sophisticated, and advanced, and may, in the future, be utilized as a blindness treatment for the common public.