In a miraculous step towards eye care, FDA has for the first time approved a medical device. It is a visual prosthetic device for age concerned macular degeneration. The FDA “Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel” recommended the device called implantable telescope developed by VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc. It seems that the device can treat the leading cases of untreatable blindness in U.S.
Macular Degeneration
In medical terms it is the loss of vision in the central visual field. It can make difficult the ability to recognize people and read books. But enough peripheral vision remains to do all the daily activities. As per the National Eye Institute more than 1.7 million Americans aged above 50 suffer mild to intense loss of vision from advanced AMD, sometimes it culminates as End-Stage AMD. Patients who are affected in both the eyes often experience loss of independence, less social interaction. Studies show that mostly half of the people living with AMD in advanced stage are affected in both the eyes.
The End- Stage Macular Degeneration
In the End-Stage AMD the macula present in each eye is irretrievably degenerated and thus no longer provides central vision accurately which is required for mostly common activities in daily life, such as recognizing facial expressions and people, or watching TV. End-Stage AMD is characterized by central blind spots, which happens in both the eyes causing irregular images in the visual field and sometimes too unrecognizable or invisible at all.
About the Telescope Device
The tentative “Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT)” is considered to be a permanent solution for moderate to intense vision loss caused by end-stage AMD that has no present surgical or medical healing options. It is smaller than a pea; implantable telescope device is fixed in one eye through an outpatient surgical process. Now in the implanted eye, the IMT generates enlarged central vision with the images spreading over a wide area on the retina improving vision, while the non-operated eye still provides minimal peripheral vision for mobility, orientation in daily activities.
