## Implant Restores Partial Vision in Patients wiht advanced Macular Degeneration: A “Milestone in Treatment”
A groundbreaking clinical study conducted at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London has demonstrated notable improvements in vision for individuals suffering from advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The results, published in the “new England Journal of Medicine” (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396?query=featured_home), represent a “real paradigm shift” in treating this leading cause of severe visual impairment in people over 50.
Age-related macular degeneration involves the death of retinal cells responsible for converting light into electrical impulses. The condition manifests in two forms: slowly progressing dry AMD and the more rapidly vision-threatening wet AMD,wich can be treated with injections.This new implant is specifically designed for patients with advanced dry AMD and loss of central vision.
The study involved a total of 38 patients across 17 clinics in five countries, all experiencing advanced vision loss due to AMD. “These patients were blind to faces, letters, their environment. Now they can use their vision again,” explained Mahi Muquit, senior eye surgeon at Moorfields Clinic.
The implant,originating from research at Stanford University in the USA,is remarkably small – just two by two millimeters and 30 micrometers thick.During a microsurgical procedure lasting less than two hours,doctors placed the chip under the patient’s retina,effectively replacing the function of the degenerated photoreceptors.
The wireless implant connects to the video camera of augmented reality glasses. These glasses transmit infrared signals to the chip, activating healthy nerve cells in the retina. The optic nerve then relays this signal to the brain, interpreting it as an image. Following the implantation, participants underwent a period of vision training.
The results are highly promising. Researchers report that over 80 percent of participants showed significant improvements in visual acuity. Moreover, more than 84 percent were able to recognize letters and numbers again after the implantation. “While previous therapies usually only slow down the progression of the disease, this approach allows partial restoration of vision for the first time,” stated retinal surgeon muquit.Prof. Frank Holz, first author of the study and director of the eye clinic at the University Hospital of Bonn, emphasized the importance of the findings. “These results mark a milestone in the treatment of geographic atrophy. For the first time, it has been possible to partially regain central visual functions in advanced AMD,” he said, adding that the technology opens a “new viewpoint” for many affected individuals.
An independent data monitoring committee has recommended approval of the technology for the European market. Researchers are currently focused on refining image processing and improving the comfort of the device.
