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Lloyd Diamond is the CEO of Pixium Vision. Dry age-related macular degeneration affects millions of people globally. Using an insertable implant in the eye in combination with lenses, central vision focus can be regained. In this episode, Lloyd Diamond discusses how Pixium Vision is creating a solution to dry age-related macular degeneration.

Top three takeaways: 

1. There is a dry and wet form of age-related macular degeneration. The dry form makes up 80% of all cases.
2. The degeneration begins in the center of the eye and then migrates to the periphery at the age of 60-65. 
3. The implant is no thicker than a human hair and contains 378 independent electrodes on it, activated by light. 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Lloyd Diamond.  

[1:50] Diamond explains the need for a device like the PRIMA system. 

[4:00] The macular degeneration (AMD) targets the central vision portion of the retina, making it difficult to read or recognize faces. 

[7:00] The retinal surgery recovery time is four weeks. After this, the activation and rehabilitation process begins. 

[9:30] A pair of lenses that houses a camera are used in combination with the implant.  

[11:45] The entire event of observance to signal processing occurs in microseconds, so the user is unaware of the reaction time of the device.   

[16:00] Their new data proves that using clear glasses and the implant, it is possible to read as small as size eight font. This demonstrates seven lines of improvement on an ETDRS chart. 

[19:00] Diamond discusses the history of Pixium.  

[21:30] Due to the difficulty in regulatory approval for these types of implants, AMD research is not as common as retinitis pigmentosa. 

[25:00] The ability to be independent and recognize family members’ faces makes the rehabilitation time and procedure appealing to the aged population.  

[27:20] The future goal is to sell in Europe first and then bring devices to the US using FDA approval.