New intraocular lens (IOL) implant technology capable of saving the vision of patients with age-related macular degeneration has been developed by London Eye Hospital.
Surgery took place at the hospital to implant the new iolAMD lens into the eye of retired classroom assistant Irene Da Silva, who was diagnosed with the condition four years ago.
When her eyesight deteriorated, she was soon only able to make out the outlines and shapes of people, but Da Silva now reported having clear vision.
‘The lens has worked incredibly. I had the operation in May, and I now have clear, bright, sharp vision in my right eye,’ she said. ‘For the first time in a long time, I can see the photos of my granddaughter and I can’t wait to see her face for real when she visits.’
Bobby Qureshi, chief medical officer and founder of the London Eye Hospital joined forces with optical physicist Professor Pablo Artal to develop the iolAMD telescope lens. The lens can be inserted into the eye with an incision of less than 3mm, in a 10 minute procedure performed by cataract-trained surgeons.
There has until now been no widely accepted treatment for sufferers of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in over 55s, it was noted.