Systems and methods are disclosed that describe flexible photo-sensing pixels and interconnects that have comparable pixel densities and functionality as the human retina. The pixels comprise vertically aligned, nanowire cluster piles that serve as the three-dimensionally compressible photoreceptor pixels, and flexible, transparent interconnected electrodes. Shape-adaptive high-resolution optic-electrical imaging system are described that can serve as a human retina and a retinal prosthesis for restoring vision.