The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first artificial retina. It can be implanted to help restore sight to people blinded by a rare genetic disorder. The device made by the Southern California firm Second Sight Medical Products is designed to do the work of light-sensing cells destroyed by retinitis pigmentosa. The hereditary condition affects about 100-thousand people in the U.S. The device doesn't completely restore vision but it helps with daily activities such as seeing objects and recognizing large letters and shapes.