• For SING IMT implantable Miniature  Telescope click here
• For EyeMax mono intraocular lens click here
• For Scharioth SML intraocular lens click here
• For Valeda photobiomodulation click here
• Macular degeneration is often related to aging and is thus often referred to as age-related macular degeneration. It is often abbreviated as AMD or ARMD. Most patients with AMD begin to notice problems sometime after age 50. AMD is the most common cause of legal blindness among people over age 60 in the Western world. The disease occurs in “dry” or “wet” forms. The cause of AMD is still unknown; however, researchers are exploring several theories as to how the disease develops. Most patients have dry type macular degeneration and about 10% progress to wet type.

AMD is a challenging disease for both patient and doctor because there are very few treatment options. For dry type macular degeneration patients are given special vitamin pills. There is a new treatment option for dry type macular degeneration called the Valeda Light Delivery system by LumiThera. Below you can find more information about Valeda treatment  for dry macular degeneration.

 For wet type disease current treatment method is anti-VGEF (Eylea and Lucentis, Avastin) injections.

Some patients benefit from telescopic intraocular implants. Our doctors are among the few most experienced pioneers in the field of telescopic implants in the world.

Read about alternative treatments and telescopic lenses for macular degereration below.

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?

Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 65. There are two types of Age Related Macular Degeneration : Dry type and
Wet type. Approximately 90% of patients have dry type macular degeneration, which has not been cured so far. For this condition, we offer the first approved treatment that can slow progression and even improve vision.

Symptoms of macular degeneration include:

• Seeing wavy or distorted lines instead of straight lines.

• Seeing a blurry dot (or dots) in the center of your vision.

• Gaps or dark spots that appear in your vision (such as smudges on glasses).

• Being more sensitive to light.

Dry type macular degeneration:

 Dry type macular degeneration is an eye disease that can affect your eyes as you age. In dry type macular degeneration, the natural pigment (RPE) under the middle part of the retina (macula) thins and yellow spots appear. The yellow
dots are called drusen. The combination of fine pigment and drusen is called dry age related Macular Degeneration!

 Dry-type macular degeneration is the most common form of macular degeneration, causing 85% to 90% of cases, developing slowly and eventually leading to loss of central vision. Taking oral carotenoid supplements containing lutein (10mg), zeaxanthin (2mg), and meso-zeaxanthin (10mg) can slow the progression of dry-type macular degeneration by increasing macular pigment levels. Until recently, there was no alternative other than nutritional supplements for dry type macular degeneration. Today, the Valeda system offers an alternative.

A new alternative for dry   Age Related Macular Degeneration!

What is the Valeda™ system?

The Valeda™
Light Transmission System (LDS) was developed by LumiThera. The system is the
first approved treatment for dry-type macular degeneration using photobiomodulation (PBM). PBM has been used for a long time and is used for a number of different diseases, including muscle repair; wound healing; improving muscle performance and many other applications. PMB uses light to stimulate
cells. This improves their function by stimulating the energy production inside the cells.

Who is Valeda treatment suitable for?

Your ophthalmologist will evaluate each patient for their suitability for Valeda. Valeda treatment is used in patients with Dry type macular degeneration with visual impairment. Some promising results have been obtained with the use of
Valeda in the early stages of dry macular degeneration to prevent or delay the progression of dry macular degeneration.

How does it work?

Photobiomodulation therapy, or cold laser therapy as it was previously known, uses wavelengths of red, yellow, and near-infrared light to rejuvenate at the cellular level. Without treatment, Dry type macular degeneration may progress as you get older,
causing vision loss. Studies have shown that Valeda photobiomodulation therapy can improve visual outcomes. In the aging eye, cells can become diseased, causing loss of function and cell death. Valeda works by stimulating the energy
production inside the eye cells and improves their ability to fulfill their role. Healthy cells are essential for good eye health.

What does Valeda treatment include?

You will need to remove your glasses and contact lenses before your treatment. You will not need any special eye drops for this treatment. The treatment involves sitting in front of the Valeda Light Distribution System, similar to when you have your eye examined by the ophthalmologist.

How often do you need to have Valeda treatment?

You will normally need a series of treatments. You will usually have 1 treatment session 3 times a week for 3 weeks. If you miss a session, you can make up for it in 3-4 weeks.

What are the risks or side effects of Valeda treatment?

Valeda therapy is a form of photobiomodulation, which is a low-level light therapy to help cells improve their function. This photobiomodulation technique has been used for other diseases and conditions. Clinical studies have shown that this is a safe procedure. As with any medical treatment, there may be some patients who may not respond or may not be effective.

SML (Scharioth Macula Lens) and EyeMax Mono and SING (Smaller Incision New Geretation Implantable Miniature Telescope)

Our doctors have experience with SML, EyeMax Mono and EyeMax Mono and SING (Smaller Incision New Geretation Implantable Miniature Telescope). The SML (Scharioth Macula Lens) is another type of intraocular lens (IOL) specifically designed for patients with macular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here’s some information about the SML:

1. Purpose: The SML has been developed to help patients with macular degeneration, especially those who have difficulty with central vision tasks like reading. It’s designed to provide magnification to aid in these tasks.
2. Design: The SML features a central magnifying portion within the IOL. This central area provides a +10D (Diopter) addition, offering a magnified image of what’s directly in front of the eye, aiding the remaining healthy retinal cells in the macula to capture more detailed visual information.
3. Implementation: Typically, the SML is implanted during cataract surgery. Once the natural, clouded lens is removed, the SML can be placed in the same capsular bag. However, for those who’ve already undergone cataract surgery with a standard IOL implant, another option would be a supplementary IOL placement where the SML is added in front of the existing IOL.
4. Outcomes: Patients who have received the SML implant have reported improved reading abilities and better performance in tasks requiring detailed vision. However, as with any intervention, results can vary among individuals.
5. Benefits: The primary benefit of the SML is its magnifying capability, which can assist patients with macular degeneration in tasks they find challenging, like reading or seeing detailed images.
6. Limitations: The magnifying effect is beneficial for near tasks, but the lens does not restore vision to its pre-degeneration state or cure macular degeneration. Additionally, the magnified view is specific to the central portion of the visual field, so peripheral vision remains unaffected.
7.  

EyeMax Mono:

The EyeMax Mono intraocular lens (IOL) is a specialized lens designed for patients with macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for detailed, central vision. The disease leads to a loss of central vision, making everyday tasks like reading or recognizing faces difficult.

Here’s some information about the EyeMax Mono IOL:

• Purpose: Unlike standard IOLs, which are primarily designed to address cataracts, the EyeMax Mono is designed specifically to enhance the image quality for those with macular degeneration.
• Design: The EyeMax Mono is uniquely structured to maximize the use of peripheral retina. By distributing light uniformly across the entire retina (and not just the damaged macula), it can help the patient use healthier parts of the retina for better vision.
• Cataract Surgery: This IOL is often implanted during cataract surgery. Once the natural, clouded lens is removed during cataract surgery, the EyeMax Mono IOL is placed to not only replace the lens but also help with the vision limitations caused by macular degeneration.
• Outcomes: Patients who have undergone cataract surgery with the EyeMax Mono implant have reported improvement in their overall quality of vision. However, it’s essential to set realistic expectations. While the EyeMax Mono can help to improve vision, it won’t cure macular degeneration or completely restore vision to what it was before the onset of the disease.
• Considerations: Like all medical procedures and interventions, there are potential risks and benefits. It’s important for patients to discuss with their ophthalmologist if the EyeMax Mono IOL is right for them, considering their specific condition and needs.
• Limitations: While the EyeMax Mono can enhance visual outcomes in patients with macular degeneration, it is not a treatment or cure for the disease itself. Patients will still have macular degeneration after the lens is implanted.

Smaller Incision New Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope

Samsara Vision’s SING IMT is a Galilean telescope implant designed to improve visual acuity and quality of life for patients with late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The design improves upon a 1st-generation miniature telescope device implanted in more than 600 patients living with late-stage AMD.

SING IMT features the same ultra-precision wide-angle micro-optics optic as its predecessor with an improved haptic design to create a telephoto effect. Images are magnified 2.7x and projected onto healthy photoreceptors surrounding the macula in the back of the eye, reducing the impact of the AMD “blind spot” in central vision and allowing patients to see images that may have been unrecognizable before.

SING IMT is a next-generation implantable miniature telescope that helps patients regain the central vision once lost to late-stage AMD.

If you or someone you know is considering such operations, it’s vital to have a thorough discussion with an ophthalmologist to understand the potential benefits, risks, and limitations of the lens.