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IOL’s For VIP’s
No, I’m not talking about specific intraocular lenses for royalty, but about a new technique of IOL surgery for visually impaired people.
IOL Vip (IntraOcular Lens for Visually impaired people) is a form of lens surgery that aims to improve a patient’s vision by creating a Galilean telescope using two intraocular lenses. The lenses take the form of a biconcave minus powered lens (approximately -66D) in the capsular bag, and a bi-convex high powered lens (approximately +55D) in the anterior chamber. The lenses are also angled slightly, the theory being a prismatic effect moves the image formed on the retina to a position of healthier tissue.
The telescope creates approximately 1.3x magnification for distance and approximately 3x magnification for reading with an increase in the working distance. Patients may also be required to undertake pre and postoperative training with a specially designed simulator to help then achieve the most from the new retinal locus where the image is placed by the Galilean telescope system. The simulator is also able to help demonstrate to the patient the predicted outcome by the IOL Vip system.
Although not a cure for macular degeneration, literature on the internet suggests that patients may find their vision improves by as much as two lines of acuity, although every patient’s surgical outcome may vary. The surgery alone may not mean the end of low vision aids for the patient but treatment is aimed at maximising their visual potential. Although dry AMD is the main patient base, the technique may be suitable for some patients with other macula problems.
So far, this surgery is being offered by 13 consultant Ophthalmologists across the country and is only available privately.
I have no personal experience of a patient who has had this operation and so it would be interesting to hear any comments from anyone who has.
References:
1. The IOL-Vip System - A Double Intraocular Lens Implant for Visual Rehabilitation of Patients with Macular Disease. Orzalesi et al Ophthalmology 2007;114:860–865
2. website www.iolvip.co.uk
Prof.S.m.Padhye // Apr 9, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Sounds very good.Will it prevent further progress of AMD.Is there any method to prevent the progress.
How much does this costs?
Peter Chapman // Apr 14, 2008 at 8:46 am
This technique is not a cure for AMD and will not stop the progression of the disease. At present there is no definate way to stop the progression of dry AMD. The aim of this technique is to maximise the visual potential of the patient. The effects of the surgery may lessen if the AMD progresses, so it would probably be advisable to consider surgery when the condition has stabilized.
The procedure costs in the region of £6000 per eye, although more accurate details of the costs and potential outcomes can be obtained by contacting your local IOL VIP Ophthalmologist.
Victoria Glendinning // May 4, 2008 at 2:33 pm
But does the condition ’stabilize’, and how does one know that it has?
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