To ChatGPT: Which visual prostheses for the totally blind are on the market today? https://chatgpt.com/share/6820a4d1-b728-8004-9072-687b2fc7070c As of 2025, the number of **commercially available visual prostheses for the totally blind** is very limited. Most earlier devices have been **discontinued**, and newer ones are still in **clinical trials or research** stages. Here’s a clear breakdown of what is currently or recently available: --- ### ✅ **1. Orion (by Second Sight / Cortigent) – Under Clinical Trial** * **Type:** Brain implant (visual cortex stimulation) * **Target group:** Totally blind (no functioning retina or optic nerve) * **Status:** *Not yet on the market*, but active in clinical trials (U.S.) * **Notes:** A successor to the Argus II, designed to bypass the eye entirely and stimulate the visual cortex directly. --- ### ❌ **2. Argus II (by Second Sight) – Discontinued** * **Type:** Epiretinal implant * **Target group:** Retinitis pigmentosa patients with remaining retinal cells * **Status:** *Discontinued in 2020*; no new implants sold * **Notes:** FDA-approved in the U.S. and CE-marked in Europe during its time. Provided low-resolution phosphene vision. --- ### ❌ **3. Alpha AMS (by Retina Implant AG) – Discontinued** * **Type:** Subretinal implant * **Target group:** Retinal degenerative diseases (e.g., RP) * **Status:** *Company insolvent* as of 2019 * **Notes:** Implanted under the retina; had limited success. --- ### ❌ **4. IRIS II (by Pixium Vision) – Discontinued** * **Type:** Epiretinal implant * **Target group:** Retinitis pigmentosa * **Status:** *Withdrawn from market* in 2019; company shifted focus * **Notes:** Pixium is now developing **PRIMA**, a subretinal implant for those with central vision loss due to AMD, not for the totally blind. --- ### 🟡 **5. Gennaris Bionic Vision System (by Bionic Vision Technologies, Australia) – Research stage** * **Type:** Visual cortex implant * **Target group:** Totally blind (from eye or optic nerve damage) * **Status:** *Not yet commercial*; preclinical testing ongoing * **Notes:** Similar goal to Orion; uses external camera and stimulation of the visual cortex. --- ### 🟡 **6. Neuralink “Blindsight” (by Elon Musk’s company) – Preclinical / Speculative** * **Type:** Visual cortex implant * **Target group:** Totally blind * **Status:** *Not on the market*, not even in human trials for blindness * **Notes:** Promised as a future solution, but no published clinical data for visual restoration as of 2025. --- ### ✅ **7. Non-implant Sensory Substitution (e.g., The vOICe) – Available** * **Type:** **Non-invasive**, visual-to-auditory conversion * **Target group:** Totally blind * **Status:** *Fully available* on Android smartphones and smart glasses * **Notes:** Converts live camera views into soundscapes that trained users can interpret visually using auditory cortex plasticity. Not a prosthesis in the surgical sense, but functionally restores vision for some users. --- ### Summary Table | Device | Type | Status (2025) | Market Availability | | ---------------------- | -------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------- | | Orion | Visual cortex BCI | Clinical trials | ❌ Not yet available | | Argus II | Retinal implant | Discontinued | ❌ No longer available | | Alpha AMS | Retinal implant | Discontinued | ❌ No longer available | | IRIS II | Retinal implant | Discontinued | ❌ No longer available | | Gennaris BVS | Visual cortex BCI | Preclinical | ❌ Not available yet | | Neuralink “Blindsight” | Visual cortex BCI | Speculative | ❌ Not available | | **The vOICe** | Sensory substitution | ✅ Fully available | ✅ **Yes – on the market** | --- ### Bottom Line: There are **no commercial implant-based visual prostheses** currently available for **new** patients as of 2025. The only **widely available and working solution** for totally blind users is **non-invasive sensory substitution**, such as **The vOICe**. Would you like a comparison between The vOICe and these implant approaches?