- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that gradually leads to the loss of central vision due to damage to the macula, the central region of the retina.
- There is a lack of effective treatments for advanced AMD, resulting in a lower quality of life and a reduced ability to perform daily activities.
- Implantable devices, including sets of lenses that function as a miniaturized telescope with the cornea, have been explored as a potential treatment.
- A small retrospective study recently showed that the smaller-incision new-generation implantable miniature telescope (SING IMT), an implantable tiny telescope, safely improved both near and distance visual activity.
It is estimated that about 20 million people in the United States have some form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that causes central vision loss.
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This first-generation implant has been described as cost-effective and compatible with other procedures such as cataract surgery. It has been approved for use in individuals aged 65 years and older with advanced AMD.
A second generation of this prosthetic developed by Samsara Vision, Inc., called the smaller-incision new-generation implantable miniature telescope (SING IMT), is designed to reduce the complexity of the surgical process, improve safety, and increase the speed of recovery.
A recent three-month study suggests that the SING-IMT is safe and improves distance and near visual in people with advanced AMD as well as resulting in lower levels of surgical trauma than its predecessor.
SING-IMT has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Edward Wood, a vitreoretinal surgeon with Austin Retina Associates in Texas, said the new technology shows promise.
“[This study evaluating the impact…
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