There are several different types of implantable lenses that are becoming available to those with macular degeneration.  Some are implanted in one eye, some are implanted in both eyes and now a new lens may involve the implantation of two lenses in one eye.   The recently designed Scharioth Macula Lens (SML) by Gabor Scharioth, MD, an ophthalmic surgeon at the University of Szeged, Hungary and a Senior Consultant at the Aurelios Augenzentrum, Recklinghausen, Germany has seen positive results in several types of retinal conditions. Patients with dry and wet macular degeneration, diabetic maculopathy, myopic maculopathy and those with who have had macula surgery, membrane peeling or macular hole surgery may be candidates for this new ocular lens.

About 3,000 lenses have been implanted worldwide and are produced by Medicontur who has international offices located in Geneva (Switzerland), Lyon (France), Brno (Czech Republic) and at facilities located near Budapest (Hungary).  “The Scharioth Macula Lens from Medicontur shows consistent results in patients with macular disease, giving them the ability to see better at near without affecting distance vision,” reports Ocular Surgery News (March 9, 2016).   The lens can be implanted in those who have had cataract surgery.  It works by doubling the magnification of what is seen in one’s central vision.

A  new clinical trial beginning sometime in 2017 will seek to discover if the Scharioth Macula Lens in age related macular degeneration patients will improve their ability to read and to perform daily living activities.  The study will take place at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Israel.   Visual acuity before surgery will be examined, the lens will be implanted and patients will be followed up at 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, and at 4 and 6 months.   Distance and near visual acuity will be measured post surgery.  Unlike external magnifiers, the SML increases the size of the image but not the size of the scotoma or central blind spot.

“In patients with cataract, I prefer to perform standard surgery with IOL implantation first, and if the patient needs further improvement, implant the Macula Lens 4 weeks later,” Gabor Scharioth, MD, said at an industry-sponsored symposium during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting.   “The important thing is that the disease is in a quiet stage, as we know that with active wet AMD or DME, cataract surgery makes the disease explode. Better treat first, and bring the eye to a dry state with no fluid or edema,” he said.

Ocular Surgery News March 9.2016

To Watch a Video of How the Scharioth Macula Lens Works:

https://youtu.be/5slCAgEaEnM

To Access Clinical Trial Information:

Implantation of Add on Lens for Age Related Macular Degeneration Patients With Low Vision

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com