The FDA has approved the Implantable Miniature Telescope for use in patients living with bilateral end-stage macular degeneration who are 65 years and older.

Posted by: Pepose Vision Institute in Pepose Info on October 17, 2014

The telescope implant is the only FDA approved surgical device for end-stage AMD and is Medicare eligible.

Dr. Mujtaba A. Qazi, a corneal specialist and Director of Clinical Studies at Pepose Vision Institute, performed the first surgeries of the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) in the Bi-State region in June 2012.

The telescope implant improves visual acuity and quality of life for suitable patients with AMD whose sight is permanently obstructed by a blind spot in their central vision, making it difficult or impossible to see faces, read, and perform everyday activities such as watching TV, preparing meals, and self-care.

End-stage AMD is uncorrectable by any other treatment including glasses, vitamins, drugs or cataract surgery and is associated with increased stress and depression as vision diminishes.

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 60 and older, affecting an estimated 15 million people. Of those, 2 million Americans are living with end-stage AMD and that number will increase as the Baby Boomer cohort ages.

If you’d like to read about the technical details of this new implant, please click here.

To learn more, please contact us to schedule an appointment.