The "cure" for Macular Degeneration? Maybe!

Implications: Macular degeneration is a condition where the central part of the retina is lost. This item places an image on the retina that is so big, it allows the use of the remaining, useful retina. Sounds great! It may be, however, as with many low vision devices, there are some potential pitfalls.

Analysis: Macular degeneration effects a greater number of patients each year as the population ages. The implantation of the telescope seems easy from the small number of patients studied. The results are great for patients that are highly motivated.

The surgical issues will decrease in the future, however, the incision needs to be larger than on standard cataract  procedures.  The actual miniature telescope is much larger than the "foldable" intraocular lenses used for many standard cataract procedures in the western world. The size of the mini telescope will decrease with more research.

The biggest obstacle to this item becoming a commonplace is the difficulty in adjusting to the "new" type of sight. The image is magnified at this point between 2.5 to 3 times. Imagine looking through a pair of binoculars for more than a few minutes at a time. It takes an openness to new visual stimuli. Not the easiest process in the aged.

On the whole, this is a welcome new addition to the telescopic market. It may not become a large competitor to Eschenbach, Zeiss, Walters, or other manufacturers of Low Vision devices.

I have been a Low Vision certified practitioner in New York State for the past 19 years. One thing I have seen is many new technologies come into the marketplace. I have yet to see a "blockbuster." This product has the ability to create a new option for the wealthier person that sees substantially worse than "normal" in both eyes. It has been "dreamed" about in Low vision circles for years. It is nice to see it come to fruition.