New hope for those with age-related macular degeneration

Acuity Medical has successfully completed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) complied clinical trial of its TheraMac device. This would treat dry age-related macular degeneration (A.M.D.). Prior to the F.D.A. trial, an open label study was conducted on 404 patients. <br><br>The device produces minute amounts of electrical bio current that is delivered to the retina through a probe touching the skin around the eye. The bio current facilitates increase in membrane permeability, improves cellular functionality and stimulates cellular repair. The total time for treating one eye is approximately 15 minutes. <br><br>According to Robert Gale Martin, M.D., Principal Investigator for Acuity Medical's TheraMac, "The initial results were extremely encouraging. The clinical impression was that it dramatically improved patients who had eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration.”<br><br>Macular degeneration, which is caused due to the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, is diagnosed as either dry or wet. TheraMac is for use with the dry non-bleeding form, which makes up 90 per cent of the cases. Currently, there is no approved treatment for dry A.M.D. <br><br>Acuity Medical is a therapeutic technology company based in Brighton, Michigan, U.S.A.