Samsara Vision, a company dedicated to restoring vision and independence to patients suffering from late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through advanced visual prosthetic devices, has successfully completed its first SING IMT® (Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope) procedure in China. The milestone was achieved under the care of Professor Li Xiaorong, MD, PhD, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Lecheng Hospital in early July. Professor Li, a respected member of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society and Dean of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, is overseeing the patient’s recovery and vision rehabilitation.
Samsara Vision is collaborating with Lansheng Medical, an experienced firm in introducing ophthalmic products to the Chinese market, to manage regulatory approvals, clinical trials, surgeon training, and marketing efforts across China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This partnership aims to expand access to the SING IMT® and provide necessary support through training and expert guidance.
Thomas Ruggia, President and CEO of Samsara Vision, highlighted their global initiative to establish a network of providers and advocates introducing innovative technologies for non-preventable blindness caused by late-stage AMD. He expressed optimism about the SING IMT® becoming a standard of care, enhancing patients’ lives by enabling them to resume everyday activities.
Additionally, across Europe, nearly one hundred surgeons in seventeen countries have performed over 350 SING IMT® implants, with a significant portion conducting multiple procedures. This widespread adoption underscores growing confidence among physicians in the device’s efficacy and patient outcomes. Recent surgeries in Slovakia conducted by Prof. MUDr. Petr Kolář, PhD, and Prof. MUDr. Nora Majtánová, PhD, were prominently covered by national media, illustrating the device’s impact on improving patients’ functional vision and quality of life.
The SING IMT® is a Galilean intraocular telescope designed to magnify central vision for late-stage AMD patients, addressing the condition’s central blind spot and enhancing visual acuity. It features a new foldable haptic design for improved stability and a Tsert SI™ delivery system that ensures consistent and predictable device deployment. These advancements reduce surgical complexity and accelerate patient recovery, empowering individuals to engage in daily tasks with enhanced visual clarity.
Samsara Vision remains committed to advancing its technology globally, guided by clinical evidence demonstrating significant improvements in functional vision and quality of life for monocularly implanted late-stage AMD patients. Their approach integrates post-marketing studies focused on real-world tasks, such as reading and mobility, to validate the device’s efficacy and patient-reported outcomes.
In summary, Samsara Vision’s pioneering efforts with the SING IMT® represent a transformative step in managing late-stage AMD, offering hope and restoring independence to patients worldwide.
