HTA Details
Retinal Prosthesis System for Advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Publication date
-
2016-June-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Eye
- Recommendation
-
Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends against publicly funding the Argus II retinal prosthesis system for advanced retinitis pigmentosa.
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends that Ontario Health review the evidence for retinal prosthesis systems in 1 year to re-evaluate the clinical effectiveness.
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited, degenerative eye disease. People diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa slowly become blind because of the breakdown and loss of photoreceptor cells in the retina (the eye).
Many drugs have been tested to try to treat retinitis pigmentosa, but unfortunately, none have worked very well.
Approximately 4,000 patients in Ontario have some form of retinitis pigmentosa and approximately 100 to 300 patients would be eligible for the Argus II retinal prosthesis system in Ontario.
A new device called a retinal prosthesis is implanted inside a patient’s eye during surgery with the goal of improving eyesight. Argus II is the only retinal prosthesis system licenced by Health Canada. This review looked at how well the Argus II system works, and how safe it is for patients. It also looked at how much the Argus II system costs. The review also involved a consultation with patients to find out what it is like to have retinitis pigmentosa, and what it is like to have the Argus II implant.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
