Emerging Technologies for Vision Restoration: Clinical Advances in Retinal Prostheses, Gene Therapy, Neuroprosthetics and Regenerative Ophthalmology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64784/257Palabras clave:
Artificial vision restoration, Retinal prosthesis, Bionic eye, Gene therapy, Genome editing, CRISPR, Optogenetics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Artificial intelligence, Retinal degeneration, Retinitis pigmentosa, Visual rehabilitation, Neuroplasticity, Precision medicine.Resumen
Artificial vision restoration has emerged as one of the most innovative fields in translational medicine, combining advances in ophthalmology, neurology, genetics, biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine, and computational sciences to address irreversible blindness. This review critically analyzes current international evidence regarding retinal prostheses, gene therapy, genome editing, optogenetics, regenerative medicine, bionic eye technologies, and artificial intelligence-assisted visual systems. The available literature demonstrates that retinal prostheses remain the most established neuroprosthetic approach for restoring functional vision, while gene therapy has become the first clinically successful molecular treatment for selected inherited retinal diseases. Emerging strategies such as CRISPR-based genome editing, optogenetic interventions, and stem cell therapies continue to expand the therapeutic landscape by targeting different stages of retinal degeneration. Artificial intelligence further enhances image processing, environmental recognition, and personalized visual rehabilitation, improving the functional performance of existing technologies. Although complete restoration of physiological vision has not yet been achieved, substantial improvements have been reported in light perception, object localization, mobility, environmental interaction, and quality of life. Scientific production remains concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia, with increasing contributions from Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador through collaborative genetic research, ophthalmological innovation, and visual rehabilitation programs. Future progress will likely depend on the integration of molecular medicine, neuroprosthetics, regenerative biology, computational intelligence, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation to provide individualized therapeutic strategies for patients with irreversible retinal diseases.
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