The optical functional advantages of an intraocular low-vision telescope.
An implantable miniaturized telescope (IMT) for low vision has recently been developed. Surgically inserted into only one eye of patients with bilateral central visual loss, the IMT provides a nominal magnification of 3.0x and a field-of-view of 6.6 degrees (9.2 degrees for the 2.2x magnification version). Theoretical concerns have been raised regarding the ability of patients to function with a large interocular magnification difference, the impact of the monocular restriction of the field-of-view, and the impact of this design on depth perception. This article addresses these concerns regarding the design of the IMT in comparison with spectacle-mounted telescopes and combined intraocular lens/spectacle (or combined contact lens/spectacle) telescopic systems. The effective field-of-view (as determined by the combination of both the field-of-view and the field-of-fixation), the effects of head motion and the vestibular reflex, and the disruption of stereo depth perception with a monocular device are considered here. Physiological optics considerations of these issues show that the IMT may have important advantages over other designs of magnification devices for patients with age-related macular degeneration.
Peli
Eli
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The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. eli@vision.eri.harvard.edu
D003867:Depth Perception; D005133:Eye Movements; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D009038:Motion; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015349:Vision, Monocular; D014794:Visual Fields