Methods for improving damaged retinal cell function

Abstract

Methods of using electrical stimulation by itself or in conjunction with growth factors to treat and prevent visual loss due to choroidal, retinal pigment epithelial and/or neuroretinal cell degeneration and dysfunction are presented.

1 . A method of improving visual function of a damaged retina in a human eye, the method comprising: 
 applying electrical stimulation to the eye with a source of electrical stimulation to improve visual function of the damaged retina, wherein applying electrical stimulation improves visual function of at least one structure of the damaged retina not in contact with the source of electrical stimulation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the improved visual function comprises improved perception of at least one of light in the presence of light, darkness in the presence of darkness, contrast, color, shape, resolution, movement or visual field size.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source of electrical stimulation comprises at least one device in contact with any structure of the eye.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation is provided to at least one of the damaged retina or a structure of the eye.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one device is in contact with the damaged retina, and 
 the applying electrical stimulation improves the visual function of at least a structure of the damaged retina peripheral to a portion of the retina in contact with the at least one device.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one device comprises a plurality of devices.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one device comprises a RSD.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the RSD comprises at least one silicon chip, 
 at least one stimulating electrode,    at least one ground return electrode, and    at least one photoelectric pixel.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one photoelectric pixel comprises at least one photodetector.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one photodetector pixel comprises at least one photoconductor.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one photoconductor comprises at least one photodiode.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the RSD further comprises an electrical ground and an insulated conductor.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the RSD further comprises a silicon tail.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the silicon chip of the RSD comprises at least one fenestration.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one stimulating electrode comprises an anode or a cathode, and 
 wherein the at least one ground return electrode comprises an opposite polarity of the at least one stimulating electrode.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the RSD is at least one device selected from the group consisting of SRP, SEMCP, ASR, ISEMCP, ISEMCP-C, VGMMRI and MMRI.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying electrical stimulation is applied in response to light.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source of electrical stimulation comprises a device having at least one photoactive surface electrically connected to at least one stimulating electrode.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the photoactive surface comprises at least one photodiode, photovoltaic device or photoelectric device.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one photodiode comprises a plurality of photodiodes, photovoltaic devices or photoelectric devices.  
   
   
       21 .- 77 . (canceled)