Training and Rehabilitation with Visual Prosthetics
MacFarland Seminar at AER Conference - 07/22/2008
Chicago Downtown Marriott

The miracle of restoring partial sight to the blind is moving from dream to
possibility in our times. Restoration of functional vision through the use of
implanted retinal prosthetic devices that provide a neurotrophic effect to
stimulate nerve growth factors in the retina in patients with photoreceptor
degeneration continues to evolve. For those who have no remaining functional
vision, the day is approaching when a retinal prosthetic will provide
functional vision for everyday tasks by detecting the light with a camera and
stimulating the retina with an implanted chip. Any successful implant must be
biocompatible and display long-term durability. One day, it may be possible
to regenerate essential retinal elements that may eventually repair retinal
damage. It is hoped that a combination of basic science research and
prosthetic device development may one day restore functional vision in
patients who are legally blind. 

...

Topics and speakers include:

  Overview of the current state of the art in Retinal Prosthetics: Gislin
  Dagnelie, Johns Hopkins University 

  The Potential of Prosthetics to Improve O&M Activities: Duane Geruschat,
  Johns Hopkins University 

  An Overview of the Potential of the Cortical Visual Prosthetic: Philip
  Troyk, Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of
  Technology 

  New Bio Technologies on the Horizon but Soon to be in Clinical Trials:
  Ronald Schuchard, Atlanta VA Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence 

From:
http://www.aerbvi.org/conference/macfarland.htm

Conference website:
http://www.aerbvi.org/conference/index.htm