Implantable Telescope Treats Macular Degeneration

Implantable Telescope Treats Macular Degeneration

A new implantable intraocular telescope is now available for patients with endstage macular degeneration.  Patients with severe, bilateral (both eyes), loss of central vision caused by macular degeneration may now benefit from this tiny visual prosthesis.  The company, VisionCare, received FDA approval for CentraSight just last week.

How Does CentraSight Work?

The CentraSight implantable telescope is designed to be placed inside only one of your eyes.  This  “telescope,” a very strong intraocular lens, will magnify your central vision and project your central vision on a larger corresponding area of your retina.  The operative eye (the eye receiving the implant) will give you central vision.

Your other eye (not receiving the implant, but has lousy central vision) will remain the same, but give you peripheral vision.  You’ll have one eye for central and the other eye for peripheral vision.

The CentraSight Program

There are four steps;  Diagnosis, Screening, Implantation and Visual Training.

Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration

You must suffer from end-stage macular degeneration.  This can be either wet  or dry.  This must be confirmed by a retina specialist.  You must be stable and are no longer treatable with any medications such as anti-VEGF.

Candidate Screening

In addition to suffering from macular degeneration, other criteria include;

  • you are legally blind from macular degeneration
  • vision improves with external telescope simulator
  • your disease is irreversible, and no longer needing drug treatment
  • you have not had cataract surgery in the eye receiving the implant
  • you meet age, vision, eye and health requirements

Surgical Implantation

Once you are determined to be an excellent candidate, surgery will be performed very similar to cataract surgery.  It will be performed as an outpatient.  There are risks of eye surgery, but none too different than other intraocular surgery.

Visual Rehabilitation

After surgery, you’ll work with eye doctors and other low vision professionals to teach you to use your new intraocular telescope.

What Does This Mean? This is not a cure for the disease, but seems to be an excellent choice for those that have profound, permanent, visual loss.  This may potentially return visual function to those suffering from permanent loss of their central vision.  This could transform disability to impairment (another topic of discussion).

This means there is hope despite a pretty bleak path for those that have suffered significant loss of vision so far.

This means we should be watchful for more news as it develops and mindful that this is brand new.

It is exciting.

Enhanced by Zemanta
12 Comments
  • Dick Marquis
    Posted at 12:36h, 10 August Reply

    Is there any similar treatment for those who have had cataract surgery?

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 17:41h, 11 August Reply

      There is not a lot of information about those eyes with implants. We’ll see. This press release is a bit strange, there is limited information available.

      Stay in touch.

      Randy

  • Sharon Isselhardt
    Posted at 21:32h, 22 August Reply

    My mom is 95 and suffers from this and her eyesight continues to worsen each day. What are the age and health restrictions for this type of implant?

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 22:02h, 22 August Reply

      Sharon,

      Right now, it seems there are no age restrictions. Having said that, the response from the company is poor. Several of my colleagues and I are interested in participating, but have not heard back from the company.

      I doubt there will be any restrictions on patient selection as long as they can get medical clearance to have surgery…whoever is qualified.

      r

  • Glenann
    Posted at 21:23h, 03 November Reply

    To whom it may concern,
    What sites in the US do this? Did they get the approval from Medicare to cover it?
    My father was screened and he qualifies, we are just wondering what the next step is.
    Thank you,
    Glenann

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 08:28h, 05 November Reply

      We have tried to contact the company on several occasions….we, too, are anxiously awaiting.

      Randy

  • Pingback:CentraSight Implantable Telescope for Macular Degeneration
    Posted at 11:28h, 17 November Reply

    […] VisionCare’s implantable telescope for patients with advanced macular degeneration was FDA approved in August.  Since then, little information has been available, but I received an update from the company last week. […]

  • RonE
    Posted at 00:02h, 30 December Reply

    My wife suffers from Macular Dystrophy which is similar to Macular Degeneration. She is in excellent health and has been legally blind for 40 years. She is 61 years of age.

    Would she be a potential candidate for this implant?

    Thank you.

    RonE

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 11:07h, 31 December Reply

      Dear RonE,

      While the indications for the implant require the diagnosis of macular degeneration, it wouldn’t be too hard to imagine that your wife could be given the same diagnosis. I’d keep a watchful eye out for more news about the implant.

      Sadly, it appears that the company was not ready for marketing their product though it gained FDA approval. We, at our center, have applied to be included, but have only received one email since I requested inclusion in November.

      We’ll see.

      Happy New Year.

      Randy

  • Pingback:Implantable Telescope Now Available for Macular Degneration
    Posted at 10:35h, 13 September Reply

    […] the implantable telescope for macular degeneration, is now available! CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has approved the telescope for […]

  • Claudia
    Posted at 13:28h, 11 November Reply

    Dear Doctor Wong,
    I was wondering if you have had any updates and are treating patients with Macular Desiese; my father is almost 83 and was diagnosed with it 3 years ago, his vision is going fast, he is very healthy, loves painting and playing golf, I can’t imagine how terrible his condition is, but he is slowly stopping from doing his activities due to his poor vision. I wish to get more information, hoping you are already doing this intraocular telescope implanting.
    Thank you in advance
    Claudia

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 10:13h, 15 November Reply

      Dear Claudia,

      Unfortunately, there is little new information about the telescope. We are not implanting at this time.

      Randy

Post A Comment