Key Takeaways

  • PRIMA implantation was associated with sustained visual acuity improvement from approximately 20/460 to 20/120 at 36 months

  • Among 18 patients evaluated at 3 years, 78% achieved gains of at least 3 lines of visual acuity

Three-year results from the PRIMAvera clinical trial suggest that the PRIMA retinal implant (Science Corporation) can provide sustained improvements in functional vision among patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The findings, presented at the 130th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), showed that patients maintained clinically meaningful visual acuity improvements through 36 months following implantation.

The multicenter study enrolled 38 patients across 17 European centers. The PRIMA system consists of a wireless photovoltaic chip implanted beneath the retina and camera-equipped glasses that project infrared light onto the implant. The chip converts the light into electrical signals that stimulate surviving retinal neurons.

At baseline, mean visual acuity was approximately 20/460. Among 18 patients evaluated at 36 months, mean visual acuity with the device improved to approximately 20/120, representing a gain of nearly 6 lines on a standard eye chart.

Additionally, 78% of patients (14 of 18) achieved improvements of at least 2 lines, with the same proportion gaining at least 3 lines.

"We were very gratified to see that the remarkable gains we found at 12 months persisted through 36 months," said Joseph Martel, MD, the study's lead author.

Investigators also reported that residual vision in implanted eyes remained largely stable with the device switched off, while vision in untreated fellow eyes continued to decline.

Most serious adverse events occurred during the first postoperative year and were associated with surgery. Between months 13 and 36, 3 patients experienced 1 serious ocular adverse event each. 

Developed by Science Corporation, PRIMA received CE marking in July 2026, permitting commercialization in Europe. The device has not received US regulatory approval.