Clara Eaglen, RNIB Eye Health Campaigns Manager, said: "At RNIB we talk to people everyday who tell us about the huge impact that losing their sight has on daily life, so this is very interesting research and is a step in the right direction. It's also interesting to learn that this implant could potentially be used to treat other conditions such as AMD, which is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK.
"Clearly it is still at an early stage and more extensive trials are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this kind of treatment, but at some point in the future retina chip implants may become part of the armoury of treatments for sight-threatening eye conditions.
"What's key with this research is how much useful vision is restored. By useful, I mean enabling someone to be able to read a bus number or to cross a road safely where they weren't able to do so before. Even a small bit of sight can make a real difference, for some people it could be the difference between leaving the house on their own or not. It could help boost people's confidence and in turn their independence."
Anyone who is concerned about their eye health can find information on our website www.rnib.org.uk or call RNIB's helpline on 0303 123 9999.