Optical-Quality Assessment of a Miniaturized Intraocular Telescope

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes severe vision impairments, including blindness. An option to improve vision in AMD patients is through intraocular lenses and optics. Among others, implantable miniaturized telescopes, which direct light to healthy lateral regions of the retina, can be highly effective in improving vision in AMD patients. Yet, the quality of the restored vision might be sensitive to the optical transmission and aberrations of the telescope. To shed light on these points, we studied the in vitro optical performance of an implantable miniaturized telescope, namely, the SING IMT (TM) (Samsara Vision Ltd., Far Hills, NJ, USA) designed to improve vision in patients affected by late-stage AMD. Specifically, we measured the optical transmission in the spectral range 350-750 nm of the implantable telescope with a fiber-optic spectrometer. Wavefront aberrations were studied by measuring the wavefront of a laser beam after passing through the telescope and expanding the measured wavefront into a Zernike polynomial basis. Wavefront concavity indicated that the SING IMT (TM) behaves as a diverging lens with a focal length of -111 mm. The device exhibited even optical transmission in the whole visible spectrum and effective curvature suitable for retinal images magnification with negligible geometrical aberrations. Optical spectrometry and in vitro wavefront analysis provide evidence supporting the feasibility of miniaturized telescopes as high-quality optical elements and a favorable option for AMD visual impairment treatments.

Automated summary

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can cause severe vision impairments, such as blindness. Intraocular lenses and optics, particularly implantable miniaturized telescopes, have shown potential in improving vision for AMD patients. In this study, the optical performance of the SING IMT (TM) implantable telescope was evaluated for its potential use in late-stage AMD patients. The results showed that the telescope had even optical transmission, suitable curvature, and minimal geometric aberrations, indicating its feasibility as a high-quality optical element for AMD visual impairment treatments.