Macular TranslocationMacular translocation is still an experimental procedure for wet age related macular degeneration. As you probably already know wet macular degeneration gets its name because of the new and fragile blood vessels that form under the macula and then leak blood and fluid. As a result of this built up fluid and pressure the macula is raised and central vision is then distorted. Scarring can also occur in the macula which leaves one with a blurry or black spot(scotoma) in the center of one's vision - however, the rest of the retina remains healthy. Just like the name implies, the macula is moved or translocated to a healthier spot in the retina.
Who is Performing Macular Translocation?
Only a small number of these surgeries have been performed worldwide. Two of the few eye centers performing this surgery are:√ Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina and √ the Eye Clinic of the Municipal Clinics Frankfurt am Main. Between 1997 and 2007 the Eye Clinic of the Municipal Clinics Frankfurt am Main - Höchst performed macular rotation on more than 400 patients. According to their website, "Our experience has taught us to inform our patients prior to surgery that the procedure offers an approximately 60% chance of restoring their reading vision (reading of newspaper using normal reading glasses)."
What is the Purpose of this Macular Degeneration Surgery?
The purpose of this surgery is to try to maintain or recover some central vision. The best candidate for this procedure is someone who has had a recent vision loss. At Duke the loss must have been in the last six months. According to Duke Eye Center, "Many patients with recent vision loss from macular degeneration have recovered useful reading vision after macular translocation surgery; however, this is not a guaranteed outcome."
How is the Procedure Performed?This procedure has been around since the 1990's. For different reasons, the interest in this retinal surgery has declined over the last several years. However there is a retina specialist in Frankfurt, Germany who is an advocate for macular translocation. In a 2005 lecture to 500 retina specialist in Barcelona, Dr. Claus Eckhardt, told the audience he would "continue the macular translocation surgery no matter what new products came on the market." At Duke and at the Eye Clinic in Frankfurt, a two stage approach is used. 
1) The first surgery moves the macula to a healthy spot on the retina2) The second surgery repositions the eye muscles to reduce the effects of any double or tilted vision What are the Risks?As with any surgical procedure there are risks involved. Some of the possible risks of are:√ cataract formation, √ infection, √ bleeding within the eye, √ retinal detachment, √ reduced vision and √ total vision loss. There are other eye centers that are performing the macular translocation procedure. Anytime a person is considering a surgery or invasive technique find out from the physician: how many of these procedures he has performed and what kind of vision improvements were seen and what complications have his patients experienced.
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