Science Corporation Implants Vision-Restoring Chip in Stargardt Disease Patient

By Priya Anand

Science Corporation has successfully implanted its PRIMA vision-restoring chip in a patient with Stargardt disease, an inherited retinal disorder that leads to central vision loss. The announcement was made by CEO Max Hodak at TechCrunch Disrupt on October 13, 2026.

The procedure, which took place in May 2026 at Sydney Eye Hospital, is part of an ongoing clinical trial. Initial rehabilitation sessions showed promising results, with the patient able to see a letter during the first session and read a word by the second.

The PRIMA chip, measuring 2 millimeters by 2 millimeters, is implanted beneath the damaged photoreceptor layer in a one-hour surgery. Patients use camera-equipped glasses that send visual data to the implant, which acts as artificial photoreceptors, producing black-and-white, high-contrast central vision within a narrow field.

While the PRIMA system is already available in Europe for treating geographic atrophy, Science Corporation is expanding its trials to include Stargardt disease and other inherited retinal degenerations. Hodak also revealed plans for a next-generation implant with a larger field of view and finer electrodes, expected to enter human trials within a year.