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Study pioneers implantation of Argus II in patients with advanced dry AMD
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COPENHAGEN — The Argus II retinal prosthesis system implanted in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration proved effective in re-establishing visual function in the area of geographic atrophy, blending well with the residual peripheral vision, according to a study.
Paulo Stanga, MD, pioneered this new application of the Argus II (Second Sight), the implant that proved over 10 years to provide stable visual improvement, up to 20/800, in patients with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The randomized, prospective study, carried out at Manchester Eye Hospital, U.K., has so far recruited five patients with geographic atrophy and visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in both eyes. The device was implanted in the worse eye.
Paulo Stanga
“Our implantation technique was very similar to the technique used for RP, taking extra care in opening a clean wound to prevent the array from engaging the full-thickness ciliary body and placing it exactly over the area of geographic atrophy to avoid interfering with the remaining vision,” Stanga said at the Euretina meeting.
OCT, he said, helped to assess that good contact was created between the device and the retina.
Results at 5 months to 15 months were rewarding, with a good interaction between central and peripheral vision. Most patients said they could see facial outlines and were able to tell if the person they looked at had the mouth open or closed. One patient was able to kick a ball, which was perceived in his central visual field.
“Looking ahead, we should aim at reducing the risk of PVR and optimize the device for AMD patients,” Stanga said.
Further data should be collected by setting a large, multicenter trial, he said. – by Michela Cimberle
Disclosure: Stanga reports he is a consultant to Second Sight.