Macular Degeneration eye glasses

[idispense]

Does anyone have any personal experience with eyeglasses especially made for macular degeneration ?

[Oedema]

Does anyone have any personal experience with eyeglasses especially made for macular degeneration ?

there's really nothing special about glasses for people with AMD. UV for sure, maybe a tint (rarely), likely a higher add, but thats about it unless we're taking low vision type stuff.

[drk]

How about the kind that squirts lutein in your eye every 15 minutes?

[JerryR]

Corning used to make a series of lenses called "CPF" they were touted as being helpful for people with ARMD. I don't know if they are still available or if they really helped.

[hcjilson]

The people who like them say they help a great deal. They're just colored filters. Some red some orange some yellow and one a lighter than cosmetan brown. Eschenbach carries a series of fitovers that I have used. Problem is, you can't predict the color for the individual, but if you have the range of four colors you should be ok. The retina specialist in my former office always prescribed yellow but I had just as much acceptance with red so I'd call it a crap shoot. get all colors.

[braheem24]

along with the colors add BI prism for the shorter focal length adds to reduce the need for extra convergence and use either SVN or larger bifocals D35, D45, Execs to allow the user to take full advantage of their better VAs off center.

[fjpod]

I'd like to echo what Harry said. I've worked with the CPF Corning lenses (I think they are still available, and certainly they have been copied). They are not specific to macular degeneration, but are supposed to improve contrast. You have to try all levels of the filters. You never know which one the patient might like. High plus adds and increased illumination may often help...but the key work is MAY.

[Jacqui]

I've also made lenses with prism segments in the center to increase visual field.

[chip anderson]

There is a special type of spectacle available (what I am saying here is all I know about it) that appearently is allowing some AMD patients to see well enough to dirive. Will see what I can learn from the re-hab counselor that told me about it.

Chip

[OHPNTZ]

along with the colors add BI prism for the shorter focal length adds to reduce the need for extra convergence and use either SVN or larger bifocals D35, D45, Execs to allow the user to take full advantage of their better VAs off center.

How do you determine the amount of BI prism?

[Oedema]

There is a special type of spectacle available (what I am saying here is all I know about it) that appearently is allowing some AMD patients to see well enough to dirive. Will see what I can learn from the re-hab counselor that told me about it.

Chip

It's called a bioptic telescope, not legal in all states.

[braheem24]

How do you determine the amount of BI prism?

If the patient had seen a competent Doctor, it's a number found in the rx pad section under Prism followed by the letters BI.

[cmarx]

Winchester Optical in Elmira NY bought the CPF filtering from Corning. It is still avaliable. We often use Drivewear as well our retinal specialist often times recommends that too

[obxeyeguy]

Winchester Optical in Elmira NY bought the CPF filtering from Corning.

"E" bought Winchester, just saying.

[HarryChiling]

These lenses are recommended for:

• cataract
• retinopathy
• corneal dystrophy
• albinism
• photophobia

Blocks 99% of light with a wavelength below 470nm.
Photochromic 1.55 material en masse technology.
Amber Yellow in color

Deactivated Tint Category: 1
Activated Tint Category: 2

[HarryChiling]

These lenses are recommended for:

• developmental cataract
• aphakia
• intraocular implant
• light sensitivity
• glaucoma

Blocks 99% of light with a wavelength below 510nm.
Photochromic 1.55 material en masse technology.
Orange Amber in color

Deactivated Tint Category: 1
Activated Tint Category: 2

[HarryChiling]

These lenses are recommended for:

• macular degeneration
• retinitis pigmentosa
• aniridia
• albinism
• glaucoma
• marked photophobia

Blocks 99% of light with a wavelength below 550nm.
Photochromic 1.55 material en masse technology.
Red in color

Deactivated Tint Category: 2
Activated Tint Category: 3

[HarryChiling]

These lenses are recommended for:

• protection after refractive surgery
• protection after cataract surgery or retinopathy problems
• prevent senile maculopathy
• protection against photosensitivity
• protection against display screens

Blocks first sign of blue light to wavelength below 470nm.
Photochromic 1.55 material en masse technology.
Yellow in color

Deactivated Tint Category: 1
Activated Tint Category: 2

[HarryChiling]

Luzerne has available a line of medical filtering lenses, I have posted the available information and attached images of their transmittance graphs and an examle of their color. Of course the bullet points above are suggestions on where to start but you will find that different patients will prefer different colors. The lenses are available in SV, SV Atoric (FF Back Surface), and Sightstar365 PAL (FF Back Surface). The lenses are photochromic filters so the level of protection will increase outdoors. If anyone is interested in more details contact your local Luzerne rep (800)233-9637.

[idispense]

Harry,your knowledge always amazes me , thanks

[fjpod]

I've also made lenses with prism segments in the center to increase visual field.

Isn't that more for RP (retinitis pigmentosa).

[fjpod]

It's called a bioptic telescope, not legal in all states.

NYS allows them for folks with up to 20/100 BVA, if their bioptic allows them to see at least 20/40.

[OHPNTZ]

..

[Ory]

Isn't that more for RP (retinitis pigmentosa).

More likely bilateral hemianopsia. I've done it once, dreadfully expensive but the guy really liked them.

How do you determine the amount of BI prism?

Quick and dirty way is 2D less than the power of the add, so a +6.00 gets 4BI (split). Better way involves (a) math or (b) trial and error.

[idispense]

If a wider bifocal segment is preferable then are you saying PAL's are ruled out ? If the MD is monocular and the brain shuts out the poor image from that eye then in monocular MD does width of the bifocal segment matter except to the good eye ?

If the MD is in only one eye ,then doesn't the brain tend to shut off the poor image and only accept the good image from the other ? If this statement is true then is there a midpoint in the early development of MD that both images are acceptable , the bad image is not blocked and the result is blur in both ?