Table of Contents
- Projector For Macular Degeneration Treatment
- Macular Degeneration Treatment
- Injections For Macular Degeneration
Projector For Macular Degeneration Treatment
Age-related macular degeneration is a common vision problem that many people over the age of 60 encounter. (Learn More)
Glasses for macular degeneration are specialized products that can enhance near and distance vision in people with macular degeneration that cannot be improved with regular glasses. (Learn More)
Sep 20, 2019 To summarize, in the comparison of TVs vs. Projectors, the projector offers much more flexibility while being much safer for viewers’ eye health. Projectors reduce the effects of blue light and direct light while also offering adjustable screen projection size, and newer projectors have smart safety features to avoid accidental eye injury. Macular degeneration; Treating the underlying cause for low vision with medications, vitamin therapy or surgical procedures may help slow the progression of vision loss, but some sight loss may never be able to be restored. Recognizing the Signs of Vision Loss. The symptoms of vision loss vary, depending on the root of the problem. Jul 02, 2020 The projector is currently on sale for less than $60, which is a low price for such a dreamy look. Shop: BlissLights Sky Lite Laser Projector, $59.99 One reviewer writes, “I’m totally add.
In addition to understanding the different types of glasses for macular degeneration, it is helpful to know whom they are most appropriate for. Your current state of macular degeneration makes a significant impact on which eyeglass products will be the most beneficial to you. (Learn More)
Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis Author links open overlay panel Wan Ling Wong MBiostat a b. Xinyi Su MD a b. Xiang Li BSc a c Chui Ming G Cheung MD a Ronald Klein MD d Dr Ching-Yu Cheng MD a b e f † Prof Tien Yin Wong MBBS a b †.
There are currently a number of eyeglass products on the market designed specifically to help people with low vision caused by macular degeneration. (Learn More) If you are interested in getting a pair of macular degeneration glasses, speak with a low-vision specialist about which products and prescriptions would be the most appropriate and helpful for you.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older, and it is most likely to occur in people over the age of 60.
With AMD, the macula is damaged over time. The macula is a small point near the center of the retina that is responsible for creating sharp, central vision needed for looking at objects straight ahead.
The progression of AMD is different for everyone. Some people may not experience much vision loss for a long time, while others lose all vision in one or both eyes.
As AMD progresses, a blurred spot in your central field of vision grows larger. This can cause blank spots in your vision or cause objects to not appear as bright as they used to be. As the disease gets worse, people experience more difficulty with daily activities, such as driving, reading, writing, and recognizing faces.
One of the technologies developed to help people experiencing AMD is macular degeneration glasses. Regular glasses may have been helpful in the past, but as AMD progresses, they become less effective at providing clear vision. Macular degeneration glasses have been specifically designed to help people with low vision see clearer and have smaller blind spots.
Types of Glasses for Macular Degeneration
If you would like glasses to relieve symptoms caused by advanced macular degeneration, it is important to find special macular degeneration glasses. Regular glasses lenses are only able to focus light onto the damaged cells in the macula. The picture will still be blurred because no accommodation has been made for the damaged macula.
With macular degeneration sunglasses, two special lenses are used to provide better magnification and make blind spots appear smaller.
Types of glasses for macular degeneration include:
- Low vision glasses. Important for helping AMD, these glasses provide high-powered magnification to reduce the size of blind spots. Different lenses can be used with special tints and coatings to improve the transmission of light, reduce glare, and improve the ability to see contrasts. These glasses are best suited for reading, writing, working on the computer, playing cards and other games, and doing any close-up activities.
- Distance vision glasses. Special binoculars or small telescopes can be mounted onto glasses to improve central vision of items far away. These are best suited for watching TV, going to the theater, watching a sports game, and looking at nature or anything far away.
Who Are the Glasses Right For?
Finding the right type of macular degeneration glasses for yourself depends greatly on the level of AMD you have. To begin, many people with AMD benefit greatly from getting an updated measurement of their refraction to determine which power of lens will benefit them the most. Once you have a current picture of your AMD, you can look for the glasses that will help you the most.
The varying stages of AMD call for different glasses.
- Early AMD: Someone with early AMD may have very little vision impairment. Progressive bifocals or having separate pairs of regular eye glasses to assist with near and distance vision may be enough.
- Early to Moderate AMD: People experiencing drusen, or white spots on the retina caused by AMD, can have difficulty seeing in a dark room when they first come inside and have decreased sensitivity to seeing contrasts. Yellow-tinted glasses can help someone with these challenges distinguish between colors more easily.
- Advanced AMD: People with advanced AMD are likely to benefit the most from special macular degeneration glasses, like the ones explained above. High-magnifying and built-in prisms in specialized glasses help the two eyes to work together to assist with near vision, while small mounted telescopes can improve distance vision.
If you are not sure which stage of AMD you may have, speak with your optometrist. They can provide a thorough consultation with comprehensive testing to make an accurate diagnosis of your AMD and determine the most appropriate type of glasses for you.
Macular Degeneration Glasses Brands
In order to improve vision for people with AMD, a number of companies have developed high-tech products. Products designed to help low-vision include magnifiers for macular degeneration (handheld magnifiers, desktop magnifiers, video magnifiers), apps, and wearable glasses. As one of the most practical aids available, wearable glasses are a popular, although expensive, visual correction device.
Brands of AMD glasses include:
- The Jordy Portable System. With a built-in HD autofocus camera, HDMI input for watching TV, and the ability to work as a desktop video magnifier, these are a popular version of AMD glasses. They cost $3,000 to $4,000, however, and a doctor’s prescription is required.
- The Eschenbach Max TV Glasses. Special binoculars are mounted onto the lenses of these glasses to help with distance vision associated with watching TV, sports events, going to concerts, and exploring outside. Available on Amazon, these glasses cost under $200 and can be customized with your proper prescription.
- eSight: Electronic glasses developed by eSight are smart glasses for people who are legally blind. They can be life-changing for people with extreme vision impairments, but also cost close to $10,000 a pair.
- NuEyes: This company provides lightweight electronic wearable smart glasses for people with visual impairments. With prices ranging from $1,500 to $3,000, they are a slightly more affordable option.
Speak With Your Doctor About Macular Degeneration Glasses
If you are interested in getting a pair of macular degeneration glasses in 2020, it is important to speak with an optometrist who specializes in low vision. Low vision specialists are well informed about the options available for enhancing your near and distance vision. They can assess your current stage of AMD and write a prescription for lenses that will give you the greatest level of vision improvements.
Although AMD is degenerative, glasses can go a long way in managing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
References
Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration. (November 2018). National Eye Institute.
Glasses and Macular Degeneration. (October 2018). Bright Focus Foundation.
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gyroscope Therapeutics Limited, a clinical-stage retinal gene therapy company, today announced the initiation of its Phase II programme evaluating its investigational gene therapy, GT005, for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Dry AMD is a leading cause of permanent vision loss in people over the age of 50. GT005 is a one-time AAV-based gene therapy that is delivered under the retina. The goal of the Phase II clinical trial programme is to determine if GT005 has the potential to slow the progression of GA.
![Treatment Treatment](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/T_Y_Wong/publication/264460731/figure/fig6/AS:267979300536349@1440902652526/Age-trends-of-prevalence-of-age-related-macular-degeneration-AMD-by-ethnicity-A-and-B.png)
Gyroscope plans to conduct two Phase II trials evaluating GT005 in people with GA. The first, called EXPLORE, is enrolling people who have a mutation in their Complement Factor I (CFI) gene [NCT04437368]. The first patient to receive GT005 in EXPLORE was enrolled and dosed by Dr. Arshad M. Khanani at Sierra Eye Associates in Reno, Nev., USA.
“Geographic atrophy is a devastating diagnosis, as there are no approved treatments for this gradual and irreversible loss of vision,” said Arshad M. Khanani, M.D., M.A., Director of Clinical Research at Sierra Eye Associates and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and an investigator in the EXPLORE trial. “We are excited to participate in this trial evaluating GT005 for the potential to slow progression of geographic atrophy. We believe one-time gene therapies could be a major advancement in the field of retinal disease.”
GT005 is designed to restore balance to an overactive complement system, a part of the immune system, by increasing production of the CFI protein. An overactive complement system has been implicated in the development of AMD. The CFI protein regulates the activity of the complement system. It is believed that increasing CFI production will dampen the system’s overactivity and reduce inflammation, with the goal of preserving a person’s eyesight.
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Research has found that approximately 3% of people with dry AMD have certain CFI mutations that correlate with low CFI levels in the blood and a higher risk of developing AMD.1 Gyroscope estimates that more than 100,000 people with GA in the United States and EU5 European countries may have these mutations.1,2,3,4 The EXPLORE trial will evaluate GT005 in this group of people with mutations in their CFI gene.
Research has also shown that a small supplementation of CFI can normalise complement activity in the blood,5 suggesting GT005 may also be applicable for a broader group of people with GA. It is estimated that approximately one million people in the United States alone have GA.4 Gyroscope therefore plans to initiate a second Phase II trial in 2020 that will evaluate GT005 in a broader GA population.
“We are excited about the potential of GT005 for people with dry AMD. Research suggests GT005 may be best suited for people with certain mutations in their CFI gene. However, evidence also suggests it may have potential for a broader population of people with geographic atrophy,” said Nadia Waheed, M.D., MPH, Chief Medical Officer of Gyroscope. “We have designed our clinical programme to evaluate these groups in two distinct Phase II trials, with the goal of determining which patients GT005 may be most appropriate for and to further our understanding of the role of the complement system in AMD.”
About the EXPLORE Trial
EXPLORE is a Phase II, multicentre, randomised trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of GT005 administered as a single subretinal injection.
EXPLORE is enrolling people who are aged 55 or older and have a clinical diagnosis of GA secondary to dry AMD and who have a mutation of the CFI gene. People being screened for the trial will be genotyped for the mutations. Trial participants will be randomised to one of three treatment arms: GT005 dose 1, GT005 dose 2 or a control arm. Participants in the control arm will receive current standard of care. The primary endpoint of EXPLORE is progression of GA over 48 weeks. The study will also evaluate GT005 for various safety and tolerability measures. Gyroscope plans to enroll approximately 75patients at approximately 40 centres based in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.
Gyroscope will announce details about the second Phase II trial of GT005 at a later date.
About Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Geographic Atrophy (GA)
AMD is a leading cause of blindness affecting an estimated 196 million people globally.6 AMD typically affects people aged 50 and older, and causes a gradual and permanent loss of central vision that worsens over time.7 There are no approved treatments for the dry form of AMD, which is the most common, impacting approximately 90% of people with the disease.8 As dry AMD advances it leads to GA, an irreversible degeneration of retinal cells. This vision loss can be devastating, severely impacting a person’s daily life as they lose the ability to drive, read and even see the faces of loved ones.
About Gyroscope Therapeutics: Vision for Life
Gyroscope Therapeutics is a clinical-stage retinal gene therapy company developing and delivering gene therapy beyond rare disease to treat a leading cause of blindness, dry AMD. Our lead investigational gene therapy, GT005, is a one-time therapy delivered under the retina. GT005 is designed to restore balance to an overactive complement system by increasing production of the Complement Factor I protein. Milwaukee tools serial number date code. GT005 is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial called FOCUS and a Phase II clinical trial called EXPLORE.
Syncona Ltd, our lead investor, helped us create the only retinal gene therapy company to combine discovery, research, drug development, a manufacturing platform and surgical delivery capabilities. Headquartered in London with locations in Philadelphia and San Francisco, our mission is to preserve sight and fight the devastating impact of blindness. For more information visit: www.gyroscopetx.com and follow us on Twitter (@GyroscopeTx) and on LinkedIn.
References
Injections For Macular Degeneration
1 Kavanagh D, Yu Y, Schramm EC, et al. Rare genetic variants in the CFI gene are associated with advanced age-related macular degeneration and commonly result in reduced serum factor I levels. Hum Mol Genet. 2015;24(13):3861-3870.
2 Data on File.
3 Friedman DS, O'Colmain BJ, Muñoz B, et al. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States [published correction appears in Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Sep;129(9):1188]. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122(4):564-572.
4 Rudnicka AR, Kapetanakis VV et al. Incidence of late-stage age-related macular degeneration in American whites: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2015;160:85-93.
5 Lachmann PJ, Lay E, Seilly DJ, Buchberger A, Schwaeble W, Khadake J. Further studies of the down-regulation by Factor I of the C3b feedback cycle using endotoxin as a soluble activator and red cells as a source of CR1 on sera of different complotype. Clin Exp Immunol. 2016;183(1):150-156.
6 Wong WL, Su X, Li X, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2014;2:e106–116.
7 National Eye Institute. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration. Accessed July 16, 2020.
8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/. Page last reviewed June 3, 2020. Accessed August 4, 2020.
2 Data on File.
3 Friedman DS, O'Colmain BJ, Muñoz B, et al. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States [published correction appears in Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Sep;129(9):1188]. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122(4):564-572.
4 Rudnicka AR, Kapetanakis VV et al. Incidence of late-stage age-related macular degeneration in American whites: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2015;160:85-93.
5 Lachmann PJ, Lay E, Seilly DJ, Buchberger A, Schwaeble W, Khadake J. Further studies of the down-regulation by Factor I of the C3b feedback cycle using endotoxin as a soluble activator and red cells as a source of CR1 on sera of different complotype. Clin Exp Immunol. 2016;183(1):150-156.
6 Wong WL, Su X, Li X, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2014;2:e106–116.
7 National Eye Institute. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration. Accessed July 16, 2020.
8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/. Page last reviewed June 3, 2020. Accessed August 4, 2020.