Passive optical device to treat age-related macular degeneration and its cognitive perception aspects

In this researchwe present a basis for a solution forAge Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients. The proposed solution is a binocular passive optical device composed of a contact lens and spectacles, both coated by light-reflecting material in order to generate a Fabry-Perot-like resonator. This bounces the light rays several times between the two surfaces, achieving optical simultaneous magnifications for near and far distances as needed for AMD patients in early stages of the disease. Our work has two parts: numerical simulation of the magnification achieved by the device and a clinical experiment, with non-AMD patients, in which we examined visual skills with simultaneous magnifications. The numerical simulations proved mathematically that the device can produce several different magnifications simultaneously, Zemax simulations confirmed this. In the clinical study, simultaneous vision was found to have little effect on visual acuity, but slightly increased reaction time to stimuli. Thus, the proposed device may improve visual capabilities of AMD patients, allow patients in stages where the peripheral retina still functions to use these areas to maximize their remaining visual potential and thus function better in everyday life.