A bionic eye system will soon be available in the United States, Discovery reports.
The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, developed by Second Sight Medical Products, aims to bring sight in varying forms to those who are visually impaired -- most specifically, those suffering from a genetic disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which affects roughly 100,000 people in the U.S.
The Argus II system consists of 60 electrodes, implanted in a patient's retina, and a pair of glasses equipped with a mini-camera. Retinitis pigmentosa disrupts the eye's retinal photoreceptors, which help convert light into impulses that are decoded into images, resulting in various degrees of visual impairment. The Argus II, then, simply acts as a replacement photoreceptor.
Already, Discovery says, the system has helped more than 60 people in Europe recover partial sight.
The product is available in various European countries for about $99,120. No U.S. price has been named yet, but it's expected to be released once it's officially approved by the FDA.
Watch the video above to learn more; the official Argus II product video is available here.
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