A team of researchers performed an innovative bionic retinal implant surgery in Honolulu at the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaii. This is the first time that a surgery of this kind has been performed in the Asia Pacific region. The surgery focuses on restoring vision for the blind people.

The operation was performed by a team of doctors, which was led by Dr. Gree T. Kokame. The groundbreaking procedure was completed on 24th March, 2015. Dr. Mark Humayu, professor of Ophthalmology - University of Southern California (USC) eye institute, Los Angeles, CA and co-inventor of the Argus II Implant were also there, when surgery was performed.

Bionic eye implant was performed by researchers at Melbourne Australia's Bionic Vision Australia at the Royal Victorian Eye and ear hospital for the first time ever in the world. And now after nearly two years, it has been performed again.

The main focus of the Hawaii Eye Surgery Center, a specialty surgery center for ophthalmology and SKAI Portfolio Company, is on surgical treatment of eyes in Hawaii and Asia Pacific region. Currently, ophthalmologic surgeries are performed by 18 eye surgeons at the center.

According to Dr. Kokame, founder and president of Retina Consultants of Hawaii, and the president of the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaii, "Today is a historical day for many reasons. This 'bionic eye' implant has the potential to restore vision to patients, who have been in total or near total darkness. This can dramatically change the quality of life of these patients".

He said that he has been part of the care of hereditary blindness since he started his career in Ophthalmology at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute. He added that the new surgery could help recover vision in patients who are functionally blind.