Macular degeneration is the number one cause of central vision loss in Americans over age 50, but a newly-approved device can help them gain some sight back. It's a miniature telescope that's implanted in the eye.
Macular degeneration is a common eye disease, where the tissue in the back of the eye dies, causing people to lose their sharp, central vision.
Dale Dechert's was legally blind as a result of end-stage macular degeneration.
"I decided I wasn't going to let my handicap control my life," says Dechert. "If I wanted to cross the street, I'd have to sit there and listen until there was no traffic going. I couldn't see the car. It was that bad."
Dechert's macular degeneration was past the point where drugs could help, but instead of suffering through it, he decided to enter a clinical trial for an implantable device that could possibly help him see better.
Dr. Daniel Berinstein, an ophthalmologist, says the new eye telescope magnifies vision in one eye, so patients can use that eye to see objects more clearly. But there is a trade off, it also takes away the peripheral vision in that eye, so patients need to use the other eye to see objects around them
"Patients need to realize this is not a cure. But we're really trying to maximize the vision that they have," says Berinstein.
It takes months, even years, of training to fully learn to use the implant. In fact, patients will often see double at first since each eye sees images in a different way.
Dechert says now that he's used to the device, he's still legally blind, but his vision has improved dramatically. He can work with his tools and even read using a magnifying glass.
"A lot of little things that I said I’d never do, I found that I could do if I worked at it hard enough," says Dechert.
Dechert says he can't feel the device in his eye and his brain has learned to adjust for double vision. Also, it's really tough to learn to use this device, which is why it's only used as a last resort.
Patients must first use a simulator to see if they're willing to go through all the training it takes to use it.
(Information courtesy NBC News)
