Occular interfaces with the brain in an effort to restore functional vision in people with severe blindness. That includes patients whose condition can’t be treated with retinal implants or optic nerve therapies.

According to the company, unlike most experimental vision-restoration technologies, which rely on stimulating the retina, interfacing directly with the brain’s visual cortex enables Occular to bypass damage to the eye or optic nerve while restoring vision. 

Occular uses a miniature camera mounted on a wireless headset to capture visual information. It transmits data to a brain implant that stimulates neurons in patterns interpreted by the brain as points of light. These signals combine to form visual representations. They may help users identify objects and navigate their surroundings.