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.