A trial of a new style of spectacle lens designed to improve vision in people with macular degeneration (AMD) has seen success in a number of patients, sight loss service provider Vista has reported.
The E-scoop lens, which has been trialled by independent practice Henry Smith & Hamylton, was reported to have seen restoration of vision by up to 45% in some patients.
Vista invited its users with AMD to try out the lenses free of charge in the practice to see if they could improve their vision. Henry Smith & Hamylton conducted the consultations and have recorded the results.
Christopher Skelton, specialist services DO at Henry Smith & Hamylton, said: ‘To date I have tried them on over 185 people and during the consultation I have been asking the wearer to rate their vision from 1-10 before and while wearing the lenses. I recorded the results and amazingly so far, 100% of patients who have tried them have seen some improvement. Some little but some have seen quite significantly better and have so far exceeded my expectations.’
The thickness and curve of the lens magnifies the image by six percent for distance, while the prism shifts the image to a different and hopefully healthier part of the macula, which is less affected by degeneration. The lenses also use contrast enhancing tint.
On the lenses, Vista service user John Thorne said: ‘I’m blind in my right eye and have no central vision in my left eye, and normally I have to look sideways and use my peripheral vision. When I put the glasses on it felt as if my vision was lifted up, and I was looking over the black dot which takes up my central vision.’