Is it true that an "artificial retina" has been developed?

On February 14, 2013...the FDA approved the "Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System".  This ingenious device was developed by "Second Sight" in California.  It consists of an intraocular portion and an extraocular portion.
The intraocular portion consists of a pattern of electrodes which are implanted onto the surface of the retina...as well as a receiving and transmitting coil...implanted onto the surface of the eye...these transmitters are connected by a wire to the electrodes inside of the eye.
The extraocular portion consists of a pair of glasses, onto which is mounted a camera.
The camera then sends images wirelessly...to the receiving coils...which then sends the images to the transmitting coils...and then to the electrodes on the retinal surface.  Impulses are then transmitted to the retinal nerve finer layer...then to the optic nerve...and then to the brain.
As of this writing...30 patients have had this device surgically implanted, as part of an FDA study.  The results have been quite remarkable.  Only patients with no light perception vision or bare light perception vision were eligible...and only patients who had a previous history of "form vision" in the past.  Patients have shown variable abilities to see large objects, navigate obstacles, reach for items on a table and even read large letters!
It is important to note that this device is now FDA approved ONLY for patients with an inherited retinal disease called RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA.
We anticipate commencing studies with the Argus II system in Toronto in late 2013.