Purpose: To evaluate the improvement of distance and near visual acuity after removal of cataract and implantation of an 3.0x intraocular miniaturized telescope (IMT) in patients with stable atrophic type age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Settings: Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante and a multicenter group.
Methods: In this prospective noncomparative multinational consecutive study, 40 eyes of 40 patients with dry-type ARMD were implanted with IMTs at multiple centers. Standard phacoemulsification procedure followed by enlargement of the incision to 10 mm and implantation in the capsular bag of an 3.0x IMT was carried out in all the cases. Patients were followed for 12 months. Evaluation included the differences between preoperative and postoperative uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity for far and near, position of the IMT, intraocular pressure, and occurrence of any postoperative complications.
Results: Mean preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA) in the operated eye was 0.9 logMAR (0.125 +/- 0.01, range 0.1 to 0.3 in decimal values); at 1 year postoperatively, mean UCDVA in the operated eye was 0.6 logMAR (0.25 +/- 0.14, range 0.1 to 0.5 in decimal values). Mean preoperative uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) in the operated eye was 0.8 logMAR (0.16 +/- 0.13, range 0.1 to 0.5 in decimal values); at 1 year postoperatively, mean UCNVA in the operated eye was 0.4 logMAR (0.4 +/- 0.26, range 0.1 to 1.0 in decimal values). The differences between pre- and postoperative distance and near visual acuities were statistically significant. Six cases were explanted, and 14 developed adverse effects, 7 of which were persistent. The corneal endothelium tolerated the procedure well.
Conclusion: Implantation of IMT is feasible and plays an effective role in improving far and near visual acuity in patients with stable dry-type ARMD.