Blindness Reversed! Musk’s Neuralink Co-Founder Achieves Artificial Vision Milestone

Blindness Reversal: A Breakthrough in Artificial Vision

This may be the most understated yet brilliant technological breakthrough of 2025.

The latest issue of Nature reports that artificial vision technology has helped a 70‑year‑old grandmother regain her sight.

> Before losing my vision, I was an avid bookworm. I wanted to get that part of my life back.

For Sheila Irvine, reading again was her deepest wish — and PRIMA made that possible.

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The PRIMA Project

The PRIMA system is a world‑first artificial vision retinal implant. It was developed by one of Neuralink’s co‑founders, now specializing in retinal implants as an independent entrepreneur.

• Thickness: As thin as a human hair
• Effectiveness: Improves vision in 80% of patients
• Benefits: Enables reading of letters, numbers, and words

Lead researcher Frank Holz states:

> This is the first study to show that artificial vision can restore functional central vision for blind patients.

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Sheila’s Journey

• Diagnosis: Age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) 15 years ago
• Symptoms: Distorted vision, described as “two black spinning discs”
• Impact: Could no longer read, recognize faces, or drive
• Participation: Joined PRIMA trial in 2022
• Outcome: Regained ability to read books and fine print on tin cans after years of rehabilitation

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Understanding AMD

Age‑related macular degeneration affects the retina’s central cells, leading to blurred or distorted central vision.

AMD types:

• Dry (atrophic) — slow degeneration
• Wet (neovascular) — rapid blood vessel growth, scarring

Global Impact: Over 5 million late‑stage dry AMD patients unable to read or recognize faces.

Other Treatment Approaches

• Stem cell therapy: Regenerate photoreceptors (clinical trials)
• Light‑sensitive proteins: Restore neuron responsiveness
• Visual cortex implants: Direct brain stimulation
• Gene therapy: Repair mutations (e.g., RPE65, CFH, C3, ABCA4)

Limitation: Most methods only slow disease — PRIMA actively restores vision.

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How PRIMA Works

Core Principle: Replace damaged photoreceptor cells with a photovoltaic retinal implant.

• Preservation: Retinal neurons remain intact in AMD
• Mechanism:
• Special glasses capture images via camera
• Images converted to infrared beams
• Retinal implant receives beams
• Signals processed and sent to brain via retinal neurons

Specs:

• Size: 2 mm × 2 mm × 30 μm
• Pixels: 381 (100 μm² each)
• Entirely wireless — powered by incoming photons

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Clinical Results

Study parameters:

• 38 GA (geographic atrophy) patients from 5 countries
• Evaluations at 6 and 12 months post‑implant
• Vision worse than 1.2 logMAR

Results:

• 84% regained functional central vision
• 80% achieved 0.2 logMAR improvement (2 lines on eye chart)
• Average gain: 25.5 letters (≈ five chart lines)

Safety:

• Some rejection symptoms (e.g., pressure, tears, bleeding) resolved within 2 months
• Peripheral vision preserved

Potential Applications: Beyond AMD — also retinitis pigmentosa.

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Current Limitations

• Pixel resolution low (black-and-white only)
• Reading speed not yet smooth
• No control group to separate implant effect from visual training

In Development:

• Higher resolution implants
• Color vision support
• Improved ergonomics in glasses and processing

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The Company Behind PRIMA — Science Corporation

Founded in 2021 by Max Hodak (Neuralink co‑founder).

Focus areas:

• Neuroengineering
• Brain‑computer interfaces
• Devices for vision, cognitive, and mobility impairments

Capabilities:

• Own micro medical chip manufacturing facility (MEMS & IC chips)
• Producing ultra‑thin flexible neural probes and silicon axon probes
• Full autonomy from materials to clinical testing

Funding:

• April 2024: Over $100M raised (Khosla Ventures lead)

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Broader Impact: AI + Biomedical Innovation

Platforms like AiToEarn官网 enable sharing life‑changing innovations globally:

• AI-driven content generation
• Multi-channel publishing (Douyin, WeChat, YouTube, X/Twitter)
• Open-source tools (GitHub)
• Analytics & monetization for science communicators

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Towards Artificial Vision as Common as Cochlear Implants

Researchers envision PRIMA as the “vision version” of the cochlear implant:

> Cochlear implants have existed for over 50 years — now artificial vision should be a reality.

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References

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03420-x
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36626080/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qpz39jpj7o
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_qTLT8kJPU&t
• https://x.com/maxhodak_/status/1980320322353299727
• https://science.xyz/
• https://maxhodak.com