not the first at all, but still a good step forward -- see the commercially available Argus II -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_retinal_prosthesis https:/

not the first at all, but still a good step forward -- see the commercially available Argus II -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_retinal_prosthesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_retinal_prosthesis * though it might be the first to work for those with optic nerve damage, or with this pathway