NEJM January 2026 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Share on Subretinal Photovoltaic Implant to Restore Vision in Geographic Atrophy Due to AMD

This research study evaluates a groundbreaking subretinal photovoltaic implant designed to combat vision loss caused by geographic atrophy, a severe form of macular degeneration. By utilizing specialized glasses that beam near-infrared light onto a chip behind the retina, the system successfully restored central sight in a high majority of clinical trial participants. Over the course of a year, most subjects experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in their ability to see, while maintaining their existing peripheral vision. Ultimately, the text demonstrates that this innovative neural prosthesis offers a promising solution for patients who previously had no medical options for recovering their lost visual clarity.