Restriction of eye motility in patients with RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS.

Purpose: To evaluate the motility of the eye in patients with the RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS.

Methods: Eye motility was determined in eight gaze directions in ten blind retinitis pigmentosa patients, who had received the RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS, before implantation of the subretinal implant and at six time-points up to one year after.

Results: The analysis of eye motility showed a restriction in the upgaze and gaze to the temporal side directly after surgery in eight of the nine patients included. The degree of motility restriction decreased continuously with recovery during the observation time. One year after surgery, eye motility was still restricted in the majority of patients, especially in the upgaze to the temporal side at 20° (five of seven patients).

Conclusion: Retinal implants with intraorbital parts (e.g. connecting cables) caused restriction in the temporal and superior viewing directions in the majority of patients. Although this restriction might be cosmetically visible, this limitation in eye motility has no effects on the monocular vision and the implant's efficacy for daily use.