For patients who are losing the last of their central vision to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Duke surgeons have refined a treatment called macular translocation surgery.

Based on the pioneering research by former Duke Eye Center chairman Robert Machemer, MD, and developed through further research by Cynthia Toth, MD, the goal of this surgery is to lift the macula away from underlying blood vessels and move it to a new, healthier location to restore central vision.

The procedure has helped many AMD patients who had little hope of seeing again to be able to resume daily activities.

The Duke Center for Macular Diseases

The Duke University Eye Center has established the Duke Center for Macular Diseases to develop and provide new forms of education, research, and patient care for those facing this sight-threatening disease.

The center takes a multidisciplinary team approach to its goal of improving care and quality of life for AMD patients and their families. The center strives to enhance existing AMD programs and services such as vision rehabilitation, clinical care, macular translocation surgery, and AMD research.

AMD is the most common cause of central vision loss in persons over age 55. Additional information on AMD is available at the Duke Center for Human Genetics.

Why Translocate the Macula?

Macular degeneration causes vision loss and scarring of the macula. This damage is eventually permanent, but only affects one central area of the retina.

Macular translocation surgery moves the macula away from the abnormal blood vessels onto a new location of healthier tissue. This procedure may maintain or recover central reading vision.

A patient may benefit from macular translocation surgery if he or she has central vision loss in one eye and the second eye has:

• Recent vision loss (within six months) and the wet form of macular degeneration
• Recent vision loss and dry macular degeneration
• Visual acuity worse than 20/60

Who will not benefit from macular translocation surgery:

• Patients with an old scarred macula will not regain vision
• Patients with other eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy or trauma
• Patients with extremely poor vision (worse than 20/400) or long-term vision loss

What you should know:

• Many patients with recent vision loss from macular degeneration have recovered useful reading vision after macular translocation surgery. However, it is a complex treatment, and therefore it is used when simple therapies have not succeeded to maintain or improve vision.
• As with any surgery, macular translocation surgery may have complications such as retinal detachment or vision loss. Your doctor will discuss possible complications.