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Stargardt Disease

Stargardt disease is a genetic eye disorder that causes a progressive loss of central vision.

The vision loss is concentrated in the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for high-detail vision for tasks like face recognition or reading. The symptoms are similar to age related macular degeneration, but they are caused by inherited mutation and affect people much earlier in life.

Illustration of a healthy retina showing light entering and traveling through the first two layers of the retina, getting absorbed by the third, and converted into a visual signal.
In a healthy retina, light travels past the first two layers of cells and is converted by the photoreceptors into bioelectric signals. The photoreceptors then send these signals through the retinal layers to the optic nerve, which carries them to the brain.
Illustration of a diseased retina showing light entering and traveling through the first two layers of the retina, and not producing any further signal.
In a retina affected by Stargardt, the photoreceptors have degenerated such that light is not converted into bioelectric signals but the other cells are still intact.
Illustration showing the action of the PRIMA implant as it stimulates remaining intact neurons.

Our Approach to Treatment

The PRIMA implant builds on decades of research to miniaturize solar technology. It is inserted into the subretinal space where the photoreceptors have degenerated, and electrical stimulation activates the remaining intact neurons to restore vision.

Learn more about PRIMA

Current Status

Science's PRIMAvera clinical study in Europe was focused on AMD and has finished with positive preliminary results. We are currently exploring the possibility of using the PRIMA implant with Stargardt patients.

Resources

More information about treatment options, disease details, and current research