Discussion on:

First telescopic eye implant approved by the FDA

RE: Prevention of macular degeneration.

I think it would help if websites would stop using bright light colors as background screens. Looking at a white page long enough is like gazing at a bright light bulb.

An advertisement on the Paul Harvey show for years by Hihealth.com touted a supplement they sold containing Lutein to slow down the effects of MD.

My aunt suffered from macular degeneration due to a defective microwave oven that continued to operate after she'd opened the door.

It was brave of you to appear in a video discussion about your recent testing and the results of conditions you might be prone to. Thanks for sharing that.

I suppose lots of us in the future will be given more advance notice of what diseases to take preventative measures against, as in your case. We have to take these results as being nothing certain, but I think that effective prevention is having some foreknowledge on what to focus on.

Certainly, the advances in medical technology give us hope for correcting conditions that we can't prevent.

quote:Stay away from microwave ovens while they are operating.
Microwaves are more lightly to cause cataracts than macular degeneration.They heat parts of the body with low blood supply
as the heat cannot be taken away quickly. which would have been noticed almost immediately.
microwave ovens have a very high level of safety circuits the final being a "crowbar" switch This causes a direct short & blows machine internal fuse if attempt is made to use with door open.
I am sure the manufacture of the oven would be happy to replace with a new model so they could inspect it.Having it check by an independent Eng would have been a good Idea with the report if confirming used in law suit & also passed on to relevant government safety inspectors.

Hhmm - the "$6,000,000 Man" but 30 years later.

@Micrahard "Looking at a white page long enough is like gazing at
a bright light bulb."

Turn down your screen brightness.

It is a shame you have to be over 75 to qualify. I have a friend that
is not yet in her forties and has been declared legally blind due to
this disease. Her son who is 13 has also been diagnosed with it.

My mom's been QUICKLY going blind due to dry macular degeneration over the past several years. She was told she could no longer drive in late 2007, and now, less than three years later, her vision is so bad she can't even make out what's on TV -- and even riding an electric shopping cart in Wal-Mart recently, came looking for me after I told her I was in the "coffee aisle," pulled up to the COFFEE END of the coffee aisle, with me standing only about 25 feet down the aisle, and couldn't tell there was any coffee there OR tell I was standing in the aisle only 25 feet away (and I'm a BIG man).

At 78, I'm thinking she should be a good candidate for this procedure (I'm certainly HOPING she is, at any rate)! We've been SEARCHING for a clinical trial she could participate in, but haven't been able to find anything in our area. This could be a Godsend for her. I just hope Medicare will approve payment for it.
Jeff Hayes
Spartanburg, SC

For you: Ascorbyl palmitate, both orally and in eyedrops, helps also, as does just enough Niacin to redden your skin for a while; the niacin dialates capillary beds and other small vessels, and prolonged sub-optimal circulation in the retina seems associated with the degeneration.

About the implant: this can be done without moving parts, without traditional lenses, and with zoom capability. Great idea, but starting with cumbersome old technology seems a bit FDA-ish.

Staring at white backgrounds on web pages is about as dangerous as reading books printed on white paper. My recommendation is that if you might go blind either way, choose books and turn off the machine!

OK, so my Dad is 87 and mostly blind from Macular Degeneration. Can you tell me where I take him to get involved with this implant? He is otherwise as healthy as an ox.

My mother lives in Southern New Jersey. She has Macular Degeneration. She is 83 years old. She had prior cataract surgery and is legally blind. She tells me she can only see shadows. My mother has always been very independent, even when my father was alive and now is dependent on her children because of her sight. It has her very depressed and giving up although she is physically fine. Please let me if there is a phone number or address I can contact to see if she would qualify and the financial details. Thank you.

My mom fits this profile, who do I contact about this operation?

Ok, so you have been requesting more information. Go here: http://www.masseyeandear.org/development-work/test/implantable-telescope/
"For information on the new device, including how it works and if you might be a candidate, please visit CentraSight and complete the questionnaire. You will be instructed where to call if you are a candidate, or call 1-888-203-6636 to speak with a nurse case manager to learn everything you need to know about the implant and your possible candidacy."
Here's the link to CentraSight: http://www.centrasight.com/centrasight_candidate

I'm over 75 and due for catarac removal and have dry macular degeneration. I'm going to save this article and give it to my eye doctor that's keeping check on my AMD. Thanks for the hope.