California neurotech startup Science Corporation has received CE mark approval in Europe for its PRIMA retinal implant, designed to treat geographic atrophy — the late stage of dry age-related macular degeneration. The system combines a sub-grain-of-rice implant placed under the macula with camera-mounted glasses that beam near-infrared light to stimulate surviving retinal neurons. A 38-patient clinical trial showed an average gain of 25.5 letters on a standard eye chart. Commercial implants are expected in Germany within weeks, with US FDA approval anticipated in early 2027. The device currently produces narrow, black-and-white images, but the company sees a path to color vision. The approval is seen as a milestone for the broader neurotech industry, signaling a viable path to revenue for brain-computer interface companies.
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