Research perspectives on implantable brain-computer interfaces for vision restoration in the blind

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-123X.2026.01.001

Abstract

Abstract:

Loss of visual function imposes a substantial burden on daily life and socioeconomic well-being. Sensory substitution (e.g., tactile or auditory channels) represents a commonly employed non-invasive approach with low surgical risk; however, its capacity for information transfer is limited. Recent advancements in materials science, artificial intelligence, and microelectronic fabrication have positioned implantable visual brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) as a more direct method for eliciting visual perceptions. This article focuses on elaborating the technical approaches and latest research progress of implantable visual BCIs from the perspectives of retinal implants and cortical implants, further analyzes critical technical challenges and potential breakthroughs, and looks ahead to the future development of related technologies, aiming to provide a reference for the scientific research and clinical practice of implantable BCIs applied to visual restoration, and bring new hope for the visual recovery of the blind.

Key words: Blindness, Brain-computer interfaces, Implantable, Retina, Visual cortex

Lili Guo, Chao Xu, Wei He, Jiang Xu, Yan Cui, Ruxiang Xu. Research perspectives on implantable brain-computer interfaces for vision restoration in the blind[J]. Chinese Journal of Brain Diseases and Rehabilitation(Electronic Edition), 2026, 16(01): 1-7.

/ / Recommend

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://zhnkjbykfzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-123X.2026.01.001

https://zhnkjbykfzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V16/I01/1

References 39

[1]	Fernández E, Alfaro A, Soto-Sánchez C, et al. Visual percepts evoked with an intracortical 96-channel microelectrode array inserted in human occipital cortex[J]. J Clin Invest, 2021, 131(23): e151331. DOI: 10.1172/JCI151331.
[2]	Boyden ES, Zhang F, Bamberg E, et al. Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity[J]. Nat Neurosci, 2005, 8(9): 1263-1268. DOI: 10.1038/nn1525.
[3]	Jurkunas UV, Kaufman AR, Yin J, et al. Cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cell (CALEC) transplantation for limbal tem cell deficiency: a phase I/II clinical trial of the first xenobiotic-free, serum-free, antibiotic-free manufacturing protocol developed in the US[J]. Nat Commun, 2025, 16(1): 1607. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56461-1.
[4]	Sahel JA, Boulanger-Scemama E, Pagot C, et al. Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy[J]. Nat Med, 2021, 27(7): 1223-1229. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01351-4.
[5]	Lu G, Gong C, Sun Y, et al. Noninvasive imaging-guided ultrasonic neurostimulation with arbitrary 2D patterns and its application for high-quality vision restoration[J]. Nat Commun, 2024, 15(1): 4481. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48683-6.
[6]	Mirochnik RM, Pezaris JS. Contemporary approaches to visual prostheses[J]. Mil Med Res, 2019, 6(1): 19. DOI: 10.1186/s40779-019-0206-9.
[7]	Liu X, Chen P, Ding X, et al. A narrative review of cortical visual prosthesis systems: the latest progress and significance of nanotechnology for the future[J]. Ann Transl Med, 2022, 10(12): 716. DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-2858.
[8]	Ahuja AK, Dorn JD, Caspi A, et al. Blind subjects implanted with the Argus II retinal prosthesis are able to improve performance in a spatial-motor task[J]. Br J Ophthalmol, 2011, 95(4): 539-543. DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2010.179622.
[9]	Dorn JD, Ahuja AK, Caspi A, et al. The detection of motion by blind subjects with the epiretinal 60-electrode (Argus II) retinal prosthesis[J]. JAMA Ophthalmol, 2013, 131(2): 183-189. DOI: 10.1001/2013.jamaophthalmol.221.
[10]	da Cruz L, Coley BF, Dorn J, et al. The argus ii epiretinal prosthesis system allows letter and word reading and long-term function in patients with profound vision loss[J]. Br J Ophthalmol, 2013, 97(5): 632-636. DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301525.
[11]	Barry MP, Dagnelie G; Argus II Study Group. Use of the Argus II retinal prosthesis to improve visual guidance of fine hand movements[J]. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2012, 53(9): 5095-5101. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-9536.
[12]	Ho AC, Humayun MS, Dorn JD, et al. Long-term results from an epiretinal prosthesis to restore sight to the blind[J]. Ophthalmology, 2015, 122(8): 1547-1554. DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.04.032.
[13]	Shepherd RK, Shivdasani MN, Nayagam DA, et al. Visual prostheses for the blind[J]. Trends Biotechnol, 2013, 31(10): 562-571. DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.07.001.
[14]	Yue L, Castillo J, Gonzalez AC, et al. Restoring color perception to the blind: an electrical stimulation strategy of retina in patients with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa[J]. Ophthalmology, 2021, 128(3): 453-462. DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.08.019.
[15]	Muqit MMK, Le Mer Y, Olmos de Koo L, et al. Prosthetic visual acuity with the PRIMA subretinal microchip in patients with atrophic age-related macular degeneration at 4 years follow-up[J]. Ophthalmol Sci, 2024, 4(5): 100510. DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2024.100510.
[16]	Wang S, Jiang C, Yu Y, et al. Tellurium nanowire retinal nanoprosthesis improves vision in models of blindness[J]. Science, 2025, 388(6751): eadu2987. DOI: 10.1126/science.adu2987.
[17]	Normann RA, Fernandez E. Clinical applications of penetrating neural interfaces and Utah electrode array technologies[J]. J Neural Eng, 2016, 13(6): 061003. DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/13/6/061003.
[18]	Löwenstein K, Borchardt M. Symptomatologie und elektrische Reizung bei einer Schußverletzung des Hinterhauptlappens[J]. Dtsch Z Nervenheilkd, 1918, 58(3-6): 264-292. DOI: 10.1007/BF01629694.
[19]	Krause F. Die Sehbahn in chirurgischer Beziehung und die Faradische Reizung des Sehzentrums[J]. Klin Wochenschr, 1924, 3: 1260-1265. DOI: 10.1007/BF01735820.
[20]	Palanker D, Goetz G. Restoring sight with retinal prostheses[J]. Phys Today, 2018, 71(7): 26-32. DOI: 10.1063/PT.3.3970.
[21]	Brindley GS, Lewin WS. The sensations produced by electrical stimulation of the visual cortex[J]. J Physiol, 1968, 196(2): 479-493. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008519.
[22]	Dobelle WH, Mladejovsky MG, Evans JR, et al. "Braille" reading by a blind volunteer by visual cortex stimulation[J]. Nature, 1976, 259(5539): 111-112. DOI: 10.1038/259111a0.
[23]	Rush AD, Troyk PR. A power and data link for a wireless-implanted neural recording system[J]. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2012, 59(11): 3255-3262. DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2012.2214385.
[24]	Fernández E, Normann RA. CORTIVIS approach for an intracortical visual prostheses[M]//Gabel V (eds). Artificial vision. Cham: Springer, 2017: 191-201. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41876-6_15.
[25]	Lowery AJ, Rosenfeld JV, Rosa MGP, et al. Monash vision group's Gennaris cortical implant for vision restoration[M]//Gabel V (eds). Artificial vision. Cham: Springer, 2017: 215-225. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41876-6_17.
[26]	Niketeghad S, Pouratian N. Brain machine interfaces for vision restoration: the current state of cortical visual prosthetics[J]. Neurotherapeutics, 2019, 16(1): 134-143. DOI: 10.1007/s13311-018-0660-1.
[27]	Troyk PR. The intracortical visual prosthesis project[M]//Gabel V (eds). Artificial vision. Cham: Springer, 2017: 203-214. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41876-6_16.
[28]	Weiland JD, Humayun MS. Retinal prosthesis[J]. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2014, 61(5): 1412-1424. DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2014.2314733.
[29]	Maynard EM, Nordhausen CT, Normann RA. The Utah intracortical electrode array: a recording structure for potential brain-computer interfaces[J]. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol, 1997, 102(3): 228-239. DOI: 10.1016/s0013-4694(96)95176-0.
[30]	Fernandez E, Alfaro A, Toledano R, et al. Perceptions elicited by electrical stimulation of human visual cortex[J]. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2015, 56(7): 777.
[31]	Lee AH, Lee J, Leung V, et al. Patterned electrical brain stimulation by a wireless network of implantable microdevices[J]. Nat Commun, 2024, 15(1): 10093. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54542-1.
[32]	Ognard J, El Hajj G, Verma O, et al. Advances in endovascular brain computer interface: systematic review and future implications[J]. J Neurosci Methods, 2025, 420: 110471. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110471.
[33]	Bosking WH, Sun P, Ozker M, et al. Saturation in phosphene size with increasing current levels delivered to human visual cortex[J]. J Neurosci, 2017, 37(30): 7188-7197. DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2896-16.2017.
[34]	Anbarasan R, Gomez Carmona D, Mahendran R. Human taste-perception: Brain Computer Interface (BCI) and its application as an engineering tool for taste-driven sensory studies[J]. Food Eng Rev, 2022, 14: 408-434. DOI: 10.1007/s12393-022-09308-0.
[35]	da Cruz L, Dorn JD, Humayun MS, et al. Five-year safety and performance results from the Argus II retinal prosthesis system clinical trial[J]. Ophthalmology, 2016, 123(10): 2248-2254. DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.06.049.
[36]	Stingl K, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Besch D, et al. Subretinal visual implant Alpha IMS--clinical trial interim report[J]. Vision Res, 2015, 111(Pt B): 149-160. DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2015.03.001.
[37]	Jorfi M, Skousen JL, Weder C, et al. Progress towards biocompatible intracortical microelectrodes for neural interfacing applications[J]. J Neural Eng, 2015, 12(1): 011001. DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/12/1/011001.
[38]	Goss-Varley M, Dona KR, McMahon JA, et al. Microelectrode implantation in motor cortex causes fine motor deficit: Implications on potential considerations to brain computer interfacing and human augmentation[J]. Sci Rep, 2017, 7(1): 15254. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15623-y.
[39]	Wandell BA, Dumoulin SO, Brewer AA. Visual field maps in human cortex[J]. Neuron, 2007, 56(2): 366-383. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.10.012.

Please choose a citation manager

Content to export