Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Eye Matters
April 23, 2013

New hope for patients with limited vision

Doctors in Virginia USA have successfully found a way to implant a telescope into a patient’s eye to improve vision in macular degeneration. This implant is designed to correct end stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD).{{more}}

This is the most advanced form of the disease. Although more prevalent in the Western world, the patients whom we see here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, suffer immensely from low vision.

Vision loss from AMD makes it very difficult for patients to see faces, to read and to perform simple activities such as cooking, cleaning, watching television and generally looking after themselves. The procedure was performed by Dr William Benson, a corneal specialist and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the VCU School of Medicine. In his own words Benson said:

“We are excited to provide this new surgical option to our advanced macular degeneration patients, who up until now have had limited options for improving vision.” Benson continued: “Advanced macular degeneration is a devastating disease, which cannot be treated by any available drugs or surgical procedures. The telescope implant offers a new hope for patients with limited vision.”

The micro optical implant is smaller than the size of a pea. Its function is to magnify images in the patient’s central vision and bypass the diseased area. The images are projected on the healthy part of the retina that is affected by the disease.

Although the microscope has been implanted in a patient with macular degeneration, it could also spell hope for many other patients suffering from chronic diseases that affect their central vision.

As usual, we will keep you posted with updates as more information comes along. Have a great week.

Dr Kenneth Onu is a resident Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Beachmont Eye Institute/Eyes R Us Send questions to: Beachmont@gmail.com
Tel: 784 456-1210

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Pharmacist in Calder shooting granted $30,000 bail
    Front Page
    Pharmacist in Calder shooting granted $30,000 bail
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    A Pharmacist, charged with attempted murder, has been granted bail in the sum of $30,000. Esworth Lewis, who is alleged to have shot a man about his b...
    Bigger things in store  for former SVG Consul General to Toronto – PM
    Front Page
    Bigger things in store for former SVG Consul General to Toronto – PM
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    A higher posting will be offered to former SVG Consul General to Toronto, Fitz Huggins, who recently demitted office. Huggins concluded his ambassador...
    Venezuelans  remain resillent, determined  despite massive sanctions by US
    Front Page
    Venezuelans remain resillent, determined despite massive sanctions by US
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    Over $20 billion in Venezuelan assets abroad remain frozen, while the country has suffered a 99% loss of foreign income since February, 2014. But desp...
    PM not ready to ‘ring the bell’ at ULP Layou rally
    Front Page
    PM not ready to ‘ring the bell’ at ULP Layou rally
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    While many may have felt the date for the general elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines would have been announced at the Unity Labour Party’s ‘W...
    Schools get in on World Food Day celebrations
    Front Page
    Schools get in on World Food Day celebrations
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    World Food Day, celebrated annually across the globe on October, 16, to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agric...
    Mitres makes history as inaugural Semi-Pro Netball Champions
    Sports
    Mitres makes history as inaugural Semi-Pro Netball Champions
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    Mitres Netball Team wrote their name into local netball history, when they captured the inaugural Semi-Professional Netball League title on Wednesday ...
    News
    More than 1000 families have received appliances says PM
    News
    More than 1000 families have received appliances says PM
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    The government’s allocation of $1.5 million in the 2025 budget to provide essential household appliances, including refrigerators, stoves, and washing...
    Urban transformation to follow Kingstown Port opening
    News
    Urban transformation to follow Kingstown Port opening
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    Minister with responsibility for urban development, airports and seaports, Senator Bernarva Browne, is looking forwards to the start of much bigger th...
    New York Times claims cocaine washed up in Grenadines
    News
    New York Times claims cocaine washed up in Grenadines
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    On October 14, 2025, The New York Times, in an article headlined “Drug Smugglers Change Supply Routes to Evade U.S. Warships”, showed a photograph of ...
    This election is a galaxy of stars, says Gonsalves
    News
    This election is a galaxy of stars, says Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    The upcoming general elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines will be about the ability of the political candidates to shine. That is the conclusion...
    Vote without fear – Senator John
    News
    Vote without fear – Senator John
    Webmaster 
    October 17, 2025
    Electors waiting to vote in the next general elections are being asked to do so without fear as the ballot is secret and no one can know who you voted...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok