Fig. 6: Implant removal and upgrade.

The key surgical steps of the removal of a PRIMA 100 µm implant and replacement with a monopolar (MP) 22 µm implant, including: A retinal detachment from the PRIMA implant by BSS injection, B grabbing the implant and dragging it in the subretinal space, C extraction of the PRIMA implant through the 1.5 mm incision in the sclera, D coating the MP device with viscoelastic gel, E inserting the implant through the same incision, F placing the new device in the same location as the PRIMA. Implants are marked by dotted lines. Fundus (scale bar 500 µm) and OCT image (scale bar 100 µm) of a PRIMA primary implant after 6 weeks of implantation (G) and an MP device 6 weeks after replacing the PRIMA implant (H). Yellow arrows indicate blood vessels used to orientate the new device in the same location as the primary implant. I Quantification of the INL thickness from biological replicates of RCS control (n = 8), primary implanted retina (n = 6), and 6 weeks post-reimplantation (n = 5). One-way ANOVA; Turkey’s post hoc; p = 0.5. Data are presented as mean values and error bars ± SEM. INL inner nuclear layer, GCL ganglion cell layer.