David S. Boyer, vitreoretinal specialist at Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group in Beverly Hills, CA will be presenting the results of the study, Five Year Data Demonstrates Long Term Effectiveness and Safety of VisionCare’s Telescope Implant for Macular Degeneration in Patients 65 years and Older to the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) 33rd Annual Meeting.  VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Saratoga, CA and is the manufacturer of the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) developed by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz.

The IMT is implanted in one eye through a single outpatient surgical visit lasting about one hour.   The eye’s natural lens is removed and then replaced with a tiny telescopic implant.  It works by improving central vision in the implanted eye and leaves the un-operated eye for peripheral vision.   Candidates for the IMT-002 study included patients who had end stage age-related macular degeneration in both eyes. Patients who participated in the 24 month study, IMT-0002, were asked to participate in an extended follow-up study called IMT-002–LTM.

217 patients with end-stage macular degeneration were enrolled in IMT-002 and 129 of those participated in the follow-up study for a total of 60 months of monitoring post telescope implantation.   The patients were grouped by age – 65 to 74 years old in one group  and 75 and older in the second group.  The studies analyzed safety and efficacy.  Visual acuity gains were retained over time according to the 5 year data study results – at two years as well as at 5 years post IMT implant for both groups, those 65 to 74 years old and for the second group 75 and older.

“The data demonstrates that the telescope implant is a clinically meaningful treatment option for patients with cataracts who have bilateral age-related macular degeneration associated with central vision loss,” stated Dr. Boyer.  “The fact that these 65 to 74 year-old patients, on average, retained nearly three lines of improvement five years after telescope implantation is tremendous.”

In October of 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Implantable Miniature Telescope for use in patients with end stage macular degeneration in both eyes who are 65 and older.   Patients are screened to see if they would benefit from the implant through testing with the use of external telescope simulators.   In order to complete the implant process, patients need to work  with low vision specialists to obtain new prescription eyeglasses and to receive training in how to use their new vision for distance and close up vision.   To watch a video of how this implant works to improve one’s quality of life  visit:

Implantable Miniature Telescope – CentraSight

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com