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Consultant Ophthalmologist, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
BMedSci BM BS MRCS MRCSEd MRCOpth FRCOphth MMedLaw PgD Cataract & Refractive Surgery

Lens Surgery For Macular Degeneration

macular degeneration sim

A glimmer of hope for AMD patients

As you know AMD is a major cause of blindness in people over the age of 55 years.  The image on the right illustrates a scene as it might be viewed by a person with End-Stage age-related macular degeneration. I became frustrated that I could not do more for these patients and often found myself taking out their cataracts in the hope of giving them some improvement.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  Sometimes the peripheral and colour vision is improved a bit but often we end up focusing the light onto the scar at the back of the eye and all the light energy is wasted.

I have searched for alternatives and am happy to introduce three specifically designed lenses to the East Midlands in the hope of giving a bit of sight back to these special patients.

implantable miniature telescopeThe Implantable Miniature Telescope

This is exactly what it says it is.  We take out the patients cataract and then implant a telescope into the eye to magnify the image up which will hopefully bridge over any macular pathology and improve vision.  The downside is a loss of peripheral vision but as long as the patient has another eye with good peripheral vision this is rarely a problem.  It is a big operation and a costly lens but patients tend to do well.

 

SML Lens

SML IOL01Approximately 2/3 of patients with severe AMD are already pseudophakic already.  This lens is a supplementary lens inserted on top of the original IOL.  It has a massive plus add centrally used for reading at close distance.  Results are encouraging and patients are achieving three lines improvement in near (very near actually ie. 15cm) reading vision.  Allowing patients to read again is a goal I strive to achieve.

Enlargement by zooming

SML enlargement

eyemaxEyemax IOL

This cutting edge IOL is designed to split the light energy off away from the fovea (which is involved in these cases of severe visual loss) across more of the macula.  Developed by London Eye Pharma. 

These patients are often desperate to try something to get some vision back and these lenses are costly.  I only plan on implanting these in patients who stand an above average chance of achieving an outcome which will significantly improve their quality of life. 

All these lenses require adaptation as they produce a new way of seeing.  Sadly some patients will remain disappointed with their vision but I intend to do my utmost to have a positive impact on their lives.

They will be assessed by a specialist optometrist before seeing me to ensure they are suitable. 

>>Read these testimonials from patients who have had eyemax mono surgery (please note that these are not Mr Alwitry's patients). 

Your help in identifying patients who are motivated and may benefit from these IOLs would be most appreciated.  Please use our refer a patient form or contact Mrs Leisa Blewitt, PA to Mr Alwitry on 0115 772 2058 or 0116 442 2081.