Chapter 3: What to Expect Before, During and After Surgery Page 57
begin to have your Argus II System custom programmed for
you (See Device Programming section below).
You will need to continue to return to the hospital periodically
so that your doctor can check the health of your eye. These
periodic visits will continue as long as the Argus II Implant
remains in your eye. A typical follow up schedule might
include visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and
12 months followed by annual or semi-annual visits.
Device Programming
In order for you to see anything from the Argus II System, it
will need to be custom programmed, or “fitted” for you.
Someone other than your doctor will likely perform this
programming. This person, a “programming clinician” could
be another doctor, nurse or technician.
Initial Programming Sessions
The purpose of the initial programming sessions is simple: to
find suitable stimulation levels so that the first visual program
can be set on your VPU. To do this, you will need to come to
the clinic where your clinician will connect the VPU to a
special computer. The programming clinician will provide
electrical stimulation to one electrode at a time. Your
clinician will record your response to the stimulation. Your
clinician will use these responses to create custom
programs. Your clinician will download these programs to
your VPU so you can use your Argus II System.