JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Macular degeneration (MD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 55.
For those with end stage disease, there has been virtually no chance of seeing what is directly in front of them again.
But a new device, an implantable telescope, is changing that. Joann Zorn is one of those patients with advanced MD. patient) "I would have a magnifying glass" to read," she said.
Zorn now has a critical part of her vision back. "Now I can read."
Zorn's ophthalmologist implanted a tiny telescope in her left eye. It has brought back the central vision she lost to macular degeneration.
Dr. Stephen Lane of Associated Eye Care in Woodbury, MN explains. "The area that allows for central vision to watch TV, read a book, drive a car is called the macula.
When that macula is destroyed by an age related process, there's essentially a hole in people's vision," he said.
"With the blind spot in both sides, both eyes, I would really have to get up close to see someone's face," Zorn explained.
When implanted, the telescope by Centrasight, magnifies central vision tremendously so while there is still a blind spot, patients see much more of what is directly ahead of them.
It does take months of rehabilitation to learn to use each eye differently. "Non-telescope eye basically sees things in the periphery, and the telescope eye sees things centrally," Dr. Lane said.
Dr. Lane said patients with this device cannot drive.
Currently, it is for people with macular degeneration in both eyes who have not had previous cataract surgery.
While the device itself costs $15,000 alone, not including the cost of surgery and rehabilitation, Dr. Lane said it is covered by Medicare.
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