Abstract
Purpose: The implantation of an intraocular telescope increases life quality in patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The present study monitored changes in electrophysiological markers of visual processing before and during seventeen months after a novel mirror telescope implantation in two patients (OV-male 90 years, MZ-female 70 years) with the final-stage form of AMD.
Methods: Visual evoked potentials were recorded to high-contrast pattern-reversal (PR-VEP for check size 40' and 10'), low-contrast motion-onset stimuli (in visual periphery M-VEP M20o, and in central part M-VEP C8o), and event-related potentials (ERPs) in the oddball visual paradigm. Results: MZ's more systematic responses showed attenuation and prolongation of the M-VEP M20o and the PR-VEP 40' immediately after the telescope implantation with a slow amplitude recovery with unchanged prolonged latency.
The implantation completely eradicated the M-VEP C8o without any restoration. The PR-VEP 10' were not readable.
Only a part of OV's PR-VEP 40' and M-VEP M20' were of a repeatable and expected morphology. These OV's VEPs were consistent with MZ's findings.
The ERPs did not show any effect of implantation in both patients. Post-implantation visual acuity and reaction time overcame the pre-implantation levels.
Conclusions: The mirror telescope preserved peripheral vision in contrast to classic telescopes; however, the telescope concurrently reduced the luminance of the magnified retinal image, which was likely responsible for the prolongation of the VEP latencies.