Artificial Retinas Stimulate Neuron Growth (in cats)

Scientists Optimistic on "Bionic" Eyes - Forbes.com: "The 2-millimeter-wide chips, developed by Optobionics Corp. of Naperville, Ill., are surgically implanted in the back of eye. Each chip's surface is covered with 5,000 microphotodiodes that react to light, sending electric signals along the eye's optic nerve to the brain.

'We're placing it right where the photoreceptors are and if they're lacking, this is supposed to replace what they're doing,' she said. 'At this point, its impulses of light they're seeing (as opposed to images), but the aim of the research is to get more information out of the chip.'

Besides helping slow the advance of the disease, studies suggest that the electric currents generated by the chips may be regenerating damaged photoreceptors surrounding the implants."