视觉假体目前已经进入临床市场。最初，视觉假体用来治疗因视网膜色素变性(RP) 导致失明的患者。2015年7月下旬， 视网膜假体首次用于治疗干性年龄相关性黄斑变性。视网膜假体适用于治疗光感受器细胞受损而其他大部分视网膜神经元完好的疾病。而对视网膜输出功能完全丧失的眼部疾病，则需要植入与视觉中枢进行接口的假体类型。目前正在研发的中枢视觉假体的代表是视皮层假体。本文探讨了视觉假体所面临的技术方面和社会经济方面的挑战。

Visual prostheses are now entering the clinical marketplace. Such prostheses were originally targeted for patients suffering from blindness through retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, in late July of this year, for the first time a patient was given a retinal implant in order to treat dry age-related macular degeneration. Retinal implants are suitable solutions for diseases that attack photoreceptors but spare most of the remaining retinal neurons. For eye diseases that result in loss of retinal output, implants that interface with more central structures in the visual system are needed. The standard site for central visual prostheses under development is the visual cortex. This perspective discusses the technical and socioeconomic challenges faced by visual prostheses.