Alan Chow MD, founder of Optobionics Corporation, will present recent patient responses to implantation of the Silicon Chip Artificial Retina in persons blinded by retinal degeneration. His collection of vintage and classic microscopes will also be on display for hands-on viewing. The dedication and demonstration of a Spitz A3P planetarium projector will round out the evening after dinner.

Bio Sketch
Dr. Alan Y. Chow is the inventor of the Artificial Silicon Retina Retinal Prosthesis. Together with his brother Vincent they founded the vision prosthesis company, Optobionics Corporation. In June of 2000, July of 2001 and November of 2002, Dr. Chow led a team of surgeons to perform the world’s first implantations of the Artificial Silicon Retina Device in 10 patients blinded from retinitis pigmentosa that has resulted in the return of a level of vision to these patients. These initial studies have now progressed to a phase II multi-center clinical trial.

Dr. Chow completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago and attended medical school at the Loyola University Medical Center where he also completed his ophthalmology residency training. He continued as a fellow in pediatric ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital National Medical Center with Marshall Parks and in ophthalmic genetics at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute with Irene Maumenee.

Dr. Chow has received honors and awards from NASA, the Westinghouse Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the NIH and the Tibbets Award at the White House. He was selected as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Scientific American 50, and is the recipient of the World Technology Network Award in Health and Medicine. His work has been highlighted on ABC World News, Dateline NBC, Nightline, Good Morning America, Discovery Channel, and in USA Today, Scientific American, Time, Newsweek, People and Fortune. Dr. Chow is an Assistant Professor at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is a reviewer for multiple journals and is an author of numerous articles and patents.