Science Corporation's PRIMA retinal implant cleared for EU market

Science Corporation, a U.S. medical‑technology firm founded by former Neuralink co‑founder Max Hodak, received European regulatory approval on July 22 for its PRIMA retinal implant. The CE mark authorises commercial use across the European Union and European Economic Area, with the first procedures expected in Germany as early as September.

PRIMA consists of a sub‑retinal chip, about the size of a pinhead, implanted beneath the retina and a pair of smart glasses that capture images with a camera and project them to the chip using infrared light. The system powers itself from ambient light, eliminating external batteries. Clinical trials showed patients regaining central vision, enabling them to read, recognize faces and navigate independently. One participant completed a 300‑page novel, while others reportedly recognized the Queen’s face and sketched the Sydney Opera House.

Geographic atrophy, the dry form of age‑related macular degeneration, affects more than five million people worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. PRIMA is the first device globally approved to restore functional central vision in advanced cases. In the United States, the device has also earned FDA Breakthrough Device and Humanitarian Use Device designations, paving the way for a near‑term launch following the EU clearance.