Reuters is running a
story
on how six patients are currently regaining
partial sight courtesy of a microchip, surgically implanted behind their retina. The chip is smaller than the head of a pin and about half the
thickness of a sheet of paper. It works by converting light into
electrical impulses.

The amazing thing about that: It seems to restimulate remaining
inactive but healthy retinal cells thus having a larger net effect
than what the implant alone provides.