July 3, 2000
A revolutionary new implant at the University of Utah is restoring vision to people who are legally blind.
The U has joined 21 other centers around the country, testing the new procedure for the Food and Drug Administration.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports.
Though the surgery is extremely delicate, it's producing dramatic results in almost all of the test cases so far. The Moran Eye Center is about half way through its clinical trials.
Tim Fosdick sees everything now - a far cry from where his vision was a year ago.
Tim Fosdick: "I SAW LIGHT AND DARK AND SOME COLOR. BUT NO IMAGES AT ALL."
Tim was the first patient in this part of the country to volunteer for a new experimental procedure. Dr. Majid Moshirfar at the Moran Eye Center implanted the new specially designed contact lens smaller than one fourth of a fingernail.
It's suspended between Tim's cornea and the crystaline lens of his eye. It's attached either vertically or horizontally - and never touches either his cornea or the natural lens.
Tim's 20-40 correction at this early stage is dramatic.
Majid Moshirfar, M.D. / Eye Surgeon, Moran Eye Center: "THESE PATIENTS WERE WORSE THAN 20 OVER 2,000. SOME OF THEM 20 OVER 4,000. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T SEE BEYOND 5 CM. BEYOND THEIR FOCAL POINT. SO THAT'S AN AMAZING RESULT.
Eva Rees was another volunteer. Her correction came out even better - at 20/20.
Eva Rees: "I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW WELL I COULD SEE - THINGS I HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEE BEFORE. I LIVE IN MURRAY BY THE SMOKESTACKS AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THOSE LITTLE POINTY THINGS UP ON THE TOP OF THE SMOKESTACKS. SO IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING."
ED YEATES: "MOST OF THESE PATIENTS HAD TO WEAR WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE COKE BOTTLE GLASSES. VERY THICK LENSES - AND EVEN THEN VISION WAS MINIMAL."
Ella also joins the ranks of those who no longer need such glasses.
Moran surgeons have implanted 13 out of 20 patients so far. The clinical trial requires that each patient be monitored for two years.
If the lenses are approved for general use in about two years, patients could get the implants for about $2,000 to $3,000 per eye.
