Wills Eye Institute and Scheie Eye Institute Partner to Perform First Retinal Implants in Philadelphia in Argus II Clinical Trials

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For Additional Information Contact: Lauren Lavine 215-440-3153

Wills Eye Institute and Scheie Eye Institute Partner to Perform First Retinal Implants in Philadelphia in Argus II Clinical Trials

PHILADELPHIA – Wills Eye Institute collaborated with Scheie Eye Institute to perform the first surgical implantation on June 29, 2009 as part of the clinical trial of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis. A second surgical implantation was performed on July 13, 2009 in another patient. Wills Eye and Scheie Eye Institutes are among six leading ophthalmology centers in the United States, four in Europe, and one in Mexico to perform this procedure.

Julia Haller, MD, Wills Eye Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, said, "The results of this worldwide clinical trial have the potential to dramatically impact the quality of life for countless individuals. We hope that this technological advance will restore mobility and independence to those patients with the most advanced retinal degenerative diseases."

Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc., the leading developer of retinal prostheses for the blind has been granted approval for up to 20 people who are blind or have severely impaired vision due to the genetic eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) to participate in the Argus™ II Retinal Implant feasibility study in the U.S.

The Argus ™II is a three-part system designed to transmit information about the physical environment directly to an individual’s retina, thus bypassing the photoreceptors that have been damaged due to RP.

Joe Bilson, Executive Director, Wills Eye Institute, said, "We are proud to be among the foremost eye care centers in the world that are participating in this clinical trial, and anticipate successful outcomes for our patients."

Allen Ho, MD, and Carl Regillo, MD, Wills Eye retina specialists and professors of ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University, performed both surgeries. It will take a few months to determine the success of the procedure.

Artur V. Cideciyan, PhD, and Samuel G. Jacobson, MD, PhD, of Scheie Eye Institute’s Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, determine which of Dr. Jacobson’s patients are appropriate candidates for the trial and then measure the outcome of the surgery in the short and long-term.

Established in 1832, Wills Eye is the nation’s oldest eye care facility and recognized as a world-class leader in the field of ophthalmology. Wills has consistently been ranked as one of the nation’s top three ophthalmology centers by the annual U.S. News & World Report survey since its inception in 1990. Its residency and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. Wills Eye provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care, including cataract, cornea, retina and glaucoma treatment, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, ocular oncology, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology and refractive surgery. Ocular services include the Wills Laser Vision Correction Center, Low Vision Service, and a 24-hour Emergency Service open 365 days a year. Wills Eye also includes a network of multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers in the tri-state region.

Scheie Eye Institute is the Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The Department is a world leader in research and is ranked among the highest in the nation in funding from the National Eye Institute of U.S. National Institutes of Health. The Center for Hereditary Retinal Degeneration is a unique facility within Scheie for understanding and treating genetic retinal disease.

Note: You may want to refer to www.2-sight.com or clinicaltrials.gov keyword ‘Argus’ for more information on the trial.