Device as small as 'grain of rice' offers new hope for rare eye disease
WCVB • • health
Key Points:
- A new surgical implant called ENCELTO, tested in Boston, offers hope for patients with macular telangiectasia (MacTel), a rare eye disease that impairs central vision and fine detail perception.
- MacTel affects the macula, causing blurry vision and blind spots that progressively worsen, often leading to severe difficulties in reading, watching television, and recognizing faces.
- The ENCELTO implant, about the size of a grain of rice, delivers essential proteins to the macula, slowing or stopping the loss of central vision but not restoring lost sight.
- The FDA approved the implant last year, and despite its high cost of approximately $250,000, it provides lifelong protection of eyesight for patients like Heather Harris-Keddy, who was the first to receive it at Mass Eye and Ear.
- Patients express relief and gratitude for the implant, as it offers a chance to preserve remaining vision and maintain independence despite the progressive nature of MacTel.
