Science Corporation, a company specializing in the development of brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, announced that its new system PRIMA has received approval from the European regulatory authorities for medical devices, a step that paves the way for its launch to treat patients who have lost their sight due to age-related macular degeneration.

The device also received a special designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which allows it to undergo expedited review procedures, potentially accelerating its approval for treating two rare types of blindness.

The system targets patients with age-related macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of vision loss in the elderly, as it leads to damage of light-sensitive cells in the retina, limiting the ability to read and recognize faces.

PRIMA relies on a tiny electronic chip implanted behind the retina during a surgical procedure that takes about an hour. The patient then uses smart glasses equipped with a camera that captures images from the surrounding environment and transmits them to the implanted chip, which stimulates the retina to provide functional vision, helping patients regain part of their sight.

The CEO and founder of the company, Max Hodak, said the technology has achieved positive results in a number of patients, explaining that one female patient in France was able to read a complete novel of about 300 pages, while others were able to solve crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles. One patient even managed to draw a painting of the Sydney Opera House, in indications reflecting the device's ability to improve quality of life and restore important visual skills.