Connecticut Macular Degeneration Low Vision Patients of the Month: January 2013

Dr. Randolph Kinkade, utilizes Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs) and

Implantable Miniature Telescopes (IMTs) to help patients with vision loss see better.

Dr. Kinkade's SMT Educational Video

 

Dr. Kinkade's IMT Educational Video

 

 

Condtion: Macular Degeneration

C.M. uses his Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT) to stay on the line when writing his checks and to fill in his check register.  Without the reading cap the precision is set for an 8' distance to help with television viewing.  He uses eccentric viewing techniques in his left eye to maximize his vision.

 

SMT used for writing checks

SMT used for writing
in the check register

_________________________________________________

Condition: Optic Nerve Atrophy

H.O. has had significant damage to his optic nerves after undergoing open heart surgery and having a stroke.  With practice, his reading telescopic prescription he will regain his ability to read the newspaper with some effort.  He now also uses a 3.5X LED illuminated hand-held magnifier to see the dials on his appliances and very small print. 



Spectacle Miniature Telescope for reading with optic atrophy

He will benefit from a wide-angle bioptic telescopic prescription in his left eye for watching television and his birds.

_________________________________________________

 

Condition: Macular Degeneration

T.Y. has sailed on the Intrepid, the 12-meter sailboat that won the America's Cup in 1967 and 1970.  At 98 he still enjoys going out on the committee boat to watch races.  He now has an improved ability to read the newspaper at an increased viewing distance with his reading telescope.  Traditional high-power reading glasses require you to hold material very close to read. He reports he sees better some days than others.

 

98-Years-Young
Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT) 
Demonstrating an Increased Reading Distance
 

 

(800) 756-0766
 rkinkade@optonline.net

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com

Call For a Free Telephone Consultation with Dr. Kinkade
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford  

 

 

 



Connecticut Doctor Now Uses Implantable Miniature Telescopes to Treat Macular Degeneration

 

 

The Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) is a dramatic new low vision rehabilitation option for patients with advanced macular degeneration



Artist's drawing of the Implantable Miniature Telescope
 

 

 

Patient's IMT

  

CentraSight, developed by VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, is training  a Connecticut team of eye care professionals consisting of an ophthalmic surgeon, a low vision optometrist (Dr. Randolph Kinkade), and an occupational therapist.

Telescopes are used effectively to reduce the relative size of a patient’s central blind spot in macular degeneration, the leading cause of permanent vision loss in older Americans.  



Dr. Kinkade has been fitting Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs) successfully for over 30 years as a way to improve patients' vision.  Advancements in medicine now allow telescopes to be implanted in the eye.

 

 




Dr. Kinkade and patient with an SMT

Bioptic SMT




 

 

The Implanted Eye

The implanted miniature telescope is a wide angle micro-telescope only 4mm in length --- a little longer than an eighth of an inch --- that is surgically positioned behind and through the pupil in one eye replacing a cataract in the eye.

 

This tiny device offers a huge benefit because it magnifies the central vision 2.2 or 3 times the normal size depending on the model used.  The enlarged, improved visual images focus on healthy areas of the central retina instead of just the damaged areas of the macula, improving the ability to see detail. This helps reduce the blind spot relative to the magnified image and allows the patient to see images clearer that would have been unrecognizable or difficult to see otherwise.

The telescope is truly a prosthetic device because it helps replace some of the precision eyesight that has been lost.  The IMT becomes part of the eye and is the closest we have to making a  bionic eye.  Patients can scan and track the entire field in front of them using natural eye move­ments.

 





The Non-Implanted Eye

The non-implanted eye provides the brain with vital peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is a part of vision that occurs outside the very center of sight and can be considered to be your “wide angle vision” for taking in general surrounding information.  Although peripheral vision is never as clear as central vision, it is necessary for moving about, detecting motion and helping with night vision. 

 

Advanced macular degeneration affects detailed central vision in both eyes.  Peripheral vision is low resolution vision (i.e., it is blurry compared to a normal healthy macula) and is not affected by macular degeneration.  You can't use it to read well, but you can use it to detect objects and movement.  A person uses the eye with the telescope for detailed central vision (such as reading "WALK" signs at a cross walk). The other eye is used for peripheral vision (such as checking to see if cars are coming from the side as you are crossing the street).

 

Pre-Surgery

After a low vision evaluation, Dr. Kinkade determines which eye the telescope will be implanted in and the power of the telescope needed to accomplish the rehabilitation goals.

IMT External Telescope Simulator  (ETS)

   

Post-Surgery

After the device is inserted by a specially trained ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Kinkade prescribes glasses  to maximize eyesight.   Patients may still need to use a magnifier for small print and other visually-guided tasks. 

The rehabilitation process continues with  therapy on how to adapt and  best use the enhanced vision.  Rehabilitation is all about teaching the brain new ways of seeing by using the magnified central vision of one eye and the peripheral vision of the other eye. 

 

Patient with IMT in his right eye

 

      Implantable Miniature Telescopes (IMTs)     

 Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs)

Telescopes will make macular degeneration patients see better.   How much better?  That depends on the level of vision, what you want to see and do, and your ability to adapt to new ways of seeing.

 

This is a very exciting time for patients that up to now have been told, “Sorry, there is nothing more we can do for you.” Please call Dr. Kinkade's office to see if you, or someone you know is a candidate for the IMT or SMT. 

 

(800) 756-0766
rkinkade@optonline.net
www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com

Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



New Hope for Patients Living with Vision Loss… E-Scoop Glasses

Dr. Randolph Kinkade
(800) 756-0766
www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

 

Dr. Randolph Kinkade, Connecticut optometrist and founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS), utilizes new lens technology to help patients who have a basic problem experienced by those with macular degeneration (AMD).




Dr. Kinkade's patient
wearing E-Scoop glasses

Dr. Kinkade's patient
wearing E-Scoop glasses




There is new hope for people whose vision has been compromised by age related macular degeneration (ARMD), glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
 

Many patients with these diseases have heard that nothing more can be done for them, but pioneering changes in recent months may offer them new options. Special types of highly sophisticated glasses prescribed by low vision doctors are quickly emerging as the answer to vision loss due to macular degeneration or other conditions that lead to limited vision.

 

New Lens Technology

Recently developed new E-Scoop lenses from Holland now enable doctors to help patients with one of the chief complaints associated with macular degeneration -- cloudy vision.

“Macular degeneration not only causes central blind spots, but reduces clarity,” says Dr. Kinkade. “Most of my patients tell me they need clearer vision.”

 

Patient Success Story

Mrs. Marianne Girard, a Seymour, CT resident, who suffers from macular degeneration, uses these new E-Scoop glasses to help her drive more confidently and watch television. “I really need them for driving and they make all the difference for watching TV,” said Mrs. Girard. “I even use them to play bocce!”

 

Marianne Girard wearing Dr. Kinkade's prescribed E-Scoop glasses

 

Glasses that use the new technology bridge the gap between standard eyeglasses and Spectacle Minature Telescopes (SMTs). Whether your difficulty is night driving, bright light, sunlight or simply seeing clearly into the distance, the E-Scoop lens placed over a standard eyeglass prescription can help.

 

 

“It is all about the physics and, particularly, precision optics,” says Dr. Kinkade. By combining six different optical properties into a two-lens system, vision can often be enhanced. “We start with the patient’s prescription and then add prisms to move the image to healthier parts of the maculas,” says Dr. Kinkade.

The lens has five distinct features that make vision clearer and sharper, with reduced glare:

• The prism moves the image away from the damaged macular area.
• The low vision prescription ensures the patient's needs are met.
• The yellow tint improves contrast.
• The thickness of the lens, combined with the special “base” curve, makes objects appear slightly larger.
• The anti-reflection coating allows more light through the lens.

E-Scoop

People with macular degeneration lose some or all of their central straight-ahead vision over time, but their peripheral side vision is not effected. Often this means they see better looking slightly to the side, rather than looking straight ahead.

 

E-Scoop lenses provide some magnification by using a combination of special lens curvature and thickness. The lenses also incorporate a custom yellow filter and anti-reflective coatings. Dr. Kinkade reports, “This is an example of two lenses definitely being better than one.”

 

Currently, Dr. Kinkade is the only doctor in Connecticut who has been specially trained to fit patients for the New E-Scoop glasses.




Dr. Kinkade's patient
wearing E-Scoop glasses



 

(800) 756-0766
www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
DrKinkade@SeeandHearAmerica.com
Call for a free telephone consultation with Dr. Kinkade
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford



 

Connecticut Doctor Offers New Powerful Eyeglasses for Macular Degeneration and Diabetes

Dr. Randolph Kinkade
(800) 756-0766
www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford
 

Dr. Kinkade's Video
Restoring Reading Ability with Macular Degeneration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Bier1fn-g

 

Dr. Kinkade and patient with reading
Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT) for macular degeneration.




Dr. Kinkade's patient with E-Scoop glasses for driving.




Patient with bioptic (SMT) glasses for driving.

Dr. Kinkade's Video
Bioptic Glasses - Success Stories 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsZBTQvW0iI

 





Dr. Kinkade' s patient reading with a
tele-microscope (SMT) for diabetic retinopathy.

 

(800) 756-0766

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com

DrKinkade@SeeandHearAmerica.com 

Call Dr. Kinkade for a free telephone consultation.

Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

 

Connecticut Telescopic Treatments for Macular Degeneration: Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT) & Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT)

           Dr. Randolph Kinkade

(800) 756-0766

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com

Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

 



Dr. Randolph Kinkade, a Connecticut optometrist and founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, uses Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs) and Implantable Miniature Telescopes (IMTs) to treat vision loss in macular degeneration. 

 

SMTs are mini-telescopes mounted into eyeglasses. The patient’s low vision prescription can be incorporated inside and around the telescope. The telescopes can be prescribed for one or both eyes. These spectacle-mounted telescopes can be worn or removed at any time, depending on the visual task. Dr. Kinkade is able to demonstrate the vision enhancement a patient can expect to have during the initial evaluation.

 

IMTs are micro-telescopes implanted in one eye, replacing the natural lens behind the pupil. They are placed in only one eye and can magnify 2.2 or 3.0 times, depending on the model. 

 

Potential patients for the IMT are evaluated by Dr. Kinkade to determine if an implanted telescope is a viable option for vision enhancement. After surgery, patients will need to work with Dr. Kinkade and an occupational therapist to learn how to use their new vision in their everyday activities.





Dr Kinkade and patient wearing a Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT).

Dr. Kinkade's Video

New Telescopic Glasses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KihkJltQViE

 

           

Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT)

          

 

Macular degeneration is a progressive condition that is the leading cause of permanent vision loss in older Americans.  There is no cure for macular degeneration.    

 

People with advancing macular degeneration often have a blurry or missing area in the center of their vision. The vision loss is often uncorrectable by standard eyeglasses, drugs or surgery. Patients with advancing macular degeneration find it difficult or impossible to read and drive.

 

Telescopes magnify objects so they are larger and easier to see. Prescription telescopes project images of objects being viewed onto healthier parts of the retina not affected by disease.  Things are bigger and easier to see.

 

Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT)



Everyday activities such as watching television, writing or using appliances become less difficult with telescopes.  In social settings, telescopes allow individuals to recognize faces once again and often allow them to see the facial expressions of friends and family.





Dr. Kinkade and patient wearing a bioptic SMT.

 
Dr. Kinkade's Bioptic Success Stories 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsZBTQvW0iI

 

Artist's rendering of the IMT showing how the device magnifies
onto healthier macular photo-receptor cells.
 

 

Dr. Kinkade's Video
What is a Low Vision Evaluation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7hFbh_TX9c

 

(800) 756-0766     

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
DrKinkade@SeeandHearAmerica.com 

Call for a free telephone consultation with Dr. Kinkade.
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

Connecticut Telescope Implant for Macular Degeneration

The first telescope implant is now becoming available in Connecticut as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for patients suffering from advanced macular degeneration.  Dr. Randolph Kinkade, an optometrist and founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, is part of the newly forming CentraSight Treatment Program in Connecticut.



Implant Miniature Telescope

 

The Implanted Miniature Telescope (IMT) is an FDA-approved medical device for enhancing vision and improving quality of life. 



Dr. Kinkade Educational Video



The IMT is not a cure for macular degeneration.  It will not return vision to 20/20, but it will improve quality of life. 

 

The telescope allows smaller detailed objects to be more visible.  Telescopes minify the blind spot (scotoma) created in macular degeneration.  It does this by reducing the size of the blind spot relative to the new magnified image. 

 

A face as seen by an individual  
with macular degeneration.

 

Dr. Kinkade assesses patients with a special external simulation telescope to help determine if they are candidates for the implanted device.  



       Patient viewing through an External  Telescopic Simulator (ETS).

The implanted telescopic eye is used for central vision. In conjunction with regular eye glasses, this eye will have improved distance and near vision. Recognizing faces and watching television should become easier. Reading and playing cards may be possible.



The implanted telescope does restrict the peripheral vision in the eye.  The other eye helps compensate for the loss in side vision.  New scanning eye movements become necessary. 

 

Even if a patient is not a candidate for the implantable telescope they very well may be a candidate for miniature telescopes mounted into a pair of glasses.  Spectacle Minature Telescopes (SMTs) have been shown to improve vision and improve quality of life for patients with all stages of macular degeneration.




Dr. Randolph Kinkade with William Baiocchi
wearing a pair of Bioptic Spectacle Miniature Telescopes
for macular degeneration.

Dr. Kinkade's Video "What is a Low Vision Evaluation"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7hFbh_TX9c

Patients must meet certain age, vision, corneal health and anterior chamber depth measurements to be eligible for the implant.  Patients cannot drive with the implant.

 

Please call Dr. Kinkade to see if you or someone you know may be a  candidate for the Implanted Miniature or Spectacle Miniature Telescope.  He has offices throughout Connecticut and at Vision Dynamics in Cheshire.

 

(800) 756-0766

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
 

Call For a Free Telephone Consultation with Dr. Kinkade
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

First Connecticut Implanted Telescope Option for Macular Degeneration

Dr. Randolph Kinkade
(800) 756-0766
www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com
Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford

Implanted Miniature Telescope.

For patients who have been told there is no medical treatment for their advanced macular degeneration, there is new hope emerging for improving their quality of life.   Dr. Randolph Kinkade, an optometrist and founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, is part of the first provider team in Connecticut offering the recent FDA approved Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT).  The IMT is  a micro-telescope placed into the eye.



Dr. Kinkade is part of the team offering diagnostic tests, surgery and rehabilitation services for the implanted telescope.     He has been prescribing Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs), for over thirty years.  Prescription telescopes reduce the impact of a central blind spot created by diseases like macular degeneration. 




Dr. Randolph Kinkade with patient wearing a Bioptic Spectacle
Miniature Telescope (SMT) for macular degeneration.



 

This is the first time technology has been available to place an even smaller telescope in the eye.  Implantation allows for a wider-angle view and natural eye movements than when mounted in an eyeglass frame.  

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in older Americans.  People experience various degrees of central detail vision loss ranging from mild to the level of legal blindness.

The telescopic system uses the optics of the cornea’s curvature (the clear widow in front of the iris) and a micro-telescope smaller than the size of a pea.  The telescope offers wide-angle optics based on a Galilean telescope design.  The telescope is implanted in only one eye.

 



IMT: Implantable Minature Telescope



 

The implanted telescope allows images to be magnified 2.2 or 3.0 times their normal size.  By doing so, visual images are placed on healthier parts of the retina where vision can be improved. 

 

The telescope is implanted by a specially trained ophthalmic surgeon as an outpatient procedure.  Rehabilitation and training are required after surgery.

 

There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration -- wet and dry.  To be considered for telescope implantation, patients have either stopped responding to injection treatments in the wet form or they must have the dry form for which there is no medical treatment.  There are  additional criteria that need to be met before the IMT can be placed in the eye.

 

 

Dr. Kinkade with patient wearing a Reading 
Spectacle Miniature  Telescope (SMT)
for Macular Degeneration.

Patient wearing a Bioptic
Spectacle Miniature Telescope (SMT)
for macular degeneration.

 

 

Dr. Kinkade's Video: New Reading Telescopes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kBenKohmW4

 

 (800) 756-0766

www.LowVisionEyeglasses.com

DrKinkade@SeeandHearAmerica.com
Call Dr. Kinkade for a Free Telephone Consulation

Cheshire - Danbury - Farmington - Litchfield - Manchester - Norwalk - Waterford