It is the first successful surgery in Korea to implant artificial retinal devices into a middle-aged woman who lost sight due to hereditary retinal pigmentation 10 years ago. This patient has been able to detect only a very strong light in the meantime. However, she has now recovered enough to read the large print on the chart.

Yoon Young-hee, professor at Asan Medical Center, revealed on June 29 that Lee Hwa-jung (54), a patient with retinal pigment degeneration, has undergone a five-hour transplantation of artificial retinal device ‘ARGUS 2’ surgery.


Retinal pigment degeneration is a hereditary retinopathy, which is normal at birth but subsequently impairs retinal photocell function. Initially, blindness is mainly complicated and vision is impaired, central vision may be seriously affected and blind as the central retina is degenerated. Current number of patients who are at risk of blindness due to retinal pigment degeneration in Korea is estimated to be about 10,000 persons.

The disease is not treatable, and ARGUS 2, an artificial retinal device developed by Dr. Humayun of the University of Southern California`s Ophthalmology Laboratory, is the only treatment. The artificial retina is a method to transcribe a visual information receiver and a platinum chip on the retina of the eyeball, and transmitting signals to the visual center in cooperation with an external camera attached to the glasses and a special portable computer device to restore visual acuity by attaching an electronic device that functions as a retina to the inside and outside of the eye. Professor Yoon Young hee and Dr. Humayun have joined the surgery together. Patent Lee is currently undergoing a normal recovery process and will receive rehabilitation treatment 20 times in the future.

By Park Min Yeong ironlung@


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