Safety and efficacy outcomes were released for the first and largest single-surgeon case series assessing the Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope (SING IMT) for the treatment of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Tell me more about the SING IMT.
SING IMT (Samsara Vision) is a Galilean-style telescope that is designed to improve the visual acuity and quality of life in patients with severe to profound central vision impairment as a result of late-stage AMD. As a preloaded device for insertion, it is implanted during cataract surgery with a corneal incision range of 6.5 mm to 7.5 mm.
Wasn’t there a previous version of it?
Yes! The device is an advancement from the original IMT, which was FDA approved in 2010. The enhancements noted in the SING IMT version include a smaller corneal wound, the potential for increased device safety, implantation ease, and a faster recovery period for patients. (via)
How does it work?
Images seen in “straight-ahead” vision are magnified 2.7x and projected into healthy, undamaged areas of the macula located in the back of the eye. This reduces the impact of the typical central vision “blind spot” found in AMD patients.
Watch a video here.
Talk about the study.
The retrospective, non-comparative, single-center study was conducted from February to June 2022 and included 24 patients: 54.2% female with an age range of 69 to 91 years (median age of 76 years). The best-corrected distance and near visual acuity (CDVA) was assessed in the study eye from baseline.
What did they find?
Investigators observed that the study eye achieved a significantly higher CDVA than the fellow eye (P<0.0001 for both) by months 1 and 3. There was a +7.3 ± 5.1 letters (P<0.0001) at 1 month, increasing to +14.9 ± 7.1 letters (P<0.0001) at 3 months, average change in the study eye’s CDVA from baseline. (via)
The non-study eye, in contrast, experienced no significant change in CDVA from baseline.
Anything else?
At 3 months and from baseline, corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) loss in the study eyes was 0.4 ± 13.3%. However, at all time points, ECD was comparable in both eyes.
How did it compare to the IMT?
A significantly lower ECD loss was observed while marking visual acuities at 3 months postop similar to 12 months postop for the original IMT device.
What’s next?
Patients will be tracked for up to 12 months after implantation of the SING IMT. Stay tuned for a data update!