Severance Hospital said on Tuesday that Professor Byeon Suk-ho of the Department of Ophthalmology was named the recipient of the 33rd Topcon Ophthalmology Academic Award for his groundbreaking research on soft, implantable artificial retinas aimed at restoring vision in patients with severe retinal diseases.
Severance Hospital’s Professor Byeon Suk-ho was awarded the 33rd Topcon Ophthalmology Award for developing a next-generation artificial retina that shows promise in restoring vision to patients with severe retinal diseases.
Severance Hospital’s Professor Byeon Suk-ho was awarded the 33rd Topcon Ophthalmology Award for developing a next-generation artificial retina that shows promise in restoring vision to patients with severe retinal diseases.
A graduate of Yonsei University College of Medicine in 1997, Byeon has extensively focused on retinal disease, engaging in translational research that spans stem cell-derived retinal organoids and gene therapy development. He has authored over 200 SCI(E)-indexed papers to date.
The award, supported by the Korean Ophthalmological Society and Topcon Korea Medical, is given annually to a Korean ophthalmologist whose research has made significant academic contributions through publications in Korean or international journals. The award ceremony will take place on April 5 during the 133rd Korean Ophthalmological Society Academic Meeting at BEXCO in Busan.
Professor Byeon was recognized for his study titled "Liquid-metal-based three-dimensional microelectrode arrays integrated with implantable ultrathin retinal prosthesis for vision restoration." The research was published in the April 2024 issue of Nature Nanotechnology.
The study focuses on developing a less invasive and more stable artificial retinal device designed to restore vision in patients who have lost sight due to retinal degeneration. While traditional artificial retinas attempt to convert light into electrical signals to stimulate neural cells in the retina, existing technologies often fall short due to technical limitations and invasiveness.
In contrast, Byeon’s team designed a flexible, ultra-thin artificial retina composed of 3D liquid metal electrodes integrated with soft, photosensitive transistors. This structure allows for better adhesion to the curved surface of the retina and minimizes damage to the retinal ganglion cell layer, while still delivering sufficient electrical charge to elicit visual perception.
The team’s preclinical studies demonstrated that the device could partially restore peripheral vision in blind animal models, offering a promising therapeutic direction for patients suffering from severe retinal disorders that involve photoreceptor loss.
Byeon’s work is considered a breakthrough in next-generation retinal implants and is expected to lead to future human trials following further optimization of device performance.
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Lee Han-soo corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr
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