Implanted Eye Telescope Improves Vision in Acute Macular Degeneration (AMD)

A tiny implantable eye telescope has been developed to improve the impaired vision of those suffering from severe acute macular degeneration (AMD). The 4 mm miniature telescope, which is already approved in Europe, magnifies the vision in the impaired eye enabling the person to be able to read, watch TV and recognize the faces of people in front of them. VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, the maker of the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT™), has been performing clinical trials to gain full FDA approval for use of the device in patients with end stage AMD.

Acute macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of impaired vision in people over the age of 50 and it is believed that 15 million Americans have some form of AMD. In AMD, the central, straight ahead vision becomes blurred and loss of color may occur due to damage of the most sensitive area in the retina called the macula. People with AMD do not go blind and usually retain peripheral vision, but the impairment is life altering affecting their ability to live independent lives as they no longer can drive or navigate stairs.

In most cases of AMD, vision decreases fairly slowly and certain types of AMD can be treated in the early stages with lasers and drops. However, as the AMD patient's vision degrades some AMD patients resort to wearing telescoping glasses called bioptics to improve their center vision. The glasses can draw attention to the vision deficit of the wearer but they make a significant improvement in vision to even enable the person to drive.

Considerations for receiving the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT):

Surgery is required to implant the IMT and even simple surgery can carry the risk of complications to the eye. It is also estimated that only 20 out of 100 AMD patients may be eligible to use the implanted telescope lens due to issues within their eyes or that they are not good candidates to adapt to the unequal magnified vision that is created. People with the implanted telescope need retraining to adjust to seeing magnified vision in one eye and regular vision in the other in order to overcome a feeling of imbalance and potential for falling when walking.

Clinical trials of people wearing the IMT for over 2 years have showed positive, safe results. The Ophthalmic Devices Advisory board has made a recommendation to the FDA to approve the use of IMT. Once Visioncare achieves full FDA approval, they will apply to Medicare for reimbursement but it is unknown whether the IMT will be allowed as a covered benefit. Insurance companies frequently do not pay for the special telescope eyeglasses that some AMD patients use. The price for the implanted telescope has not yet been determined.

The implanted eye telescope shows tremendous promise in improving the quality of life for those afflicted with AMD. According to Dr. Hudson, one of the study physicians, "The average patient goes from legally blind to being able to read large-print books."

Hearing about the success of this new technology conjures images of the opening scene in the 6 million dollar man where they are implanting a bionic device in Steve Austin's left eye. Steve Austin's boss says, "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology... Better than he was before." Well, maybe not better than before but much better than not having magnified vision from the implanted telescope.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/business/19novel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Better%20vision%20with%20a%20telescope%20inside%20the%20ey&st=cse

http://www.visioncareinc.net/homepage.html

http://www.amd.org/home.html