| If you are suffering from age related macular | | | | handheld telescope or a telescope mounted onto |
| degeneration, then you have something to cheer | | | | glasses. Both are quite difficult and inconvenient to |
| about. The United States FDA has finally | | | | use. On the other hand, the new assistive device |
| approved a miniature telescope that can be | | | | is small in size and can be implanted into the eye |
| implanted in the eye to help people suffering from | | | | to help improve and enhance a person's quality of |
| AMD, which is a progressive vision disorder that | | | | life. |
| causes central vision loss, so that the person | | | | The implantable telescope will be only available to |
| cannot read, watch television or see faces. | | | | those people who are suffering from advanced |
| This new device is made in such a way that it is | | | | stages of AMD. Also, there are some risks |
| implanted in one eye to allow the person to have | | | | involved, like damage to the cornea or worsening |
| central vision, while the other eye caters for the | | | | of the vision. So, anyone opting for the miniature |
| peripheral vision. However, in this case, the brain | | | | implantable telescope will have to sign an |
| will have to work hard in joining the two images | | | | Acceptance of Risk agreement before the |
| from both the eyes into a single one. Thus, | | | | surgery. In addition, there is a stringent testing |
| anyone getting this implant will have to have | | | | phase to determine who can get this implant. |
| rehabilitation in order to train the brain to view the | | | | While this is good news for people suffering from |
| images as one. | | | | advanced stages of AMD, the implantable |
| While it maybe be cumbersome to get into | | | | telescope may not be affordable by all. The cost |
| rehabilitation, it is a much better alternative than | | | | of the device is pegged at $15,000 plus there is |
| what is available today for people suffering from | | | | the cost for the surgery and subsequent |
| late stages of age related macular degeneration. | | | | rehabilitation. So, only those who have sufficient |
| Today, these people have to either make use of | | | | money to spare can benefit. |