The Intraocular Lens for Visually Impaired Patients (IOLVIP or IOL-VIP) is an
intraocular lens system aiming to treat patients with poor central vision due to age related
macular degeneration. The IOLVIP procedure involves the surgical implantation of a pair of lenses that magnify and divert the image using the principals of the
Galilean telescope
A refracting telescope (also called a refractor) is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image (also referred to a dioptric telescope). The refracting telescope design was originally used in spyglasses and as ...
. By arranging the lenses it is possible to direct the image to a different part of the eye than the
fovea
Fovea () (Latin for "pit"; plural foveae ) is a term in anatomy. It refers to a pit or depression in a structure.
Human anatomy
*Fovea centralis of the retina
* Fovea buccalis or Dimple
* Fovea of the femoral head
* Trochlear fovea of the fr ...
, which is the centre of the
macula and is usually used for detailed vision. The magnified image is projected on to a part of the eye not normally used for detailed vision. Magnification and patient training are both necessary to allow useful vision from this part of the retina.
It is a procedure to give symptomatic relief rather than treat disease and is best understood as an implanted miniature telescope.
The procedure was pioneered in Italy and has since been taken to the UK and USA. It should not be used in anyone with active (that is changing) macular degeneration. It can be used in both "burned out" wet macular degeneration and in dry or atrophic macular degeneration. A telescopic simulator can be used to assess whether the surgery might be helpful, and to establish the best rotation for the two lenses.
References
{{Reflist
External links
LensSpecial the manufacturers of the IOLVIP lens (Italian)
About macular degeneration(from BrendanMoriarty.com)
IOLVIP procedure page(from BrendanMoriarty.com)
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:File:IOLVIP.svg
Ophthalmology
