SARATOGA, Calif.—VisionCare, a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has tapped MellingMedical to distribute the Implantable Miniature Telescope to Department of Veteran’s Affairs hospitals, military hospitals and other federal government health care facilities in the U.S. MellingMedical provides medical supplies, equipment, devices and pharmaceuticals to federal health facilities across the country under the VA’s “Veterans First” procurement program.The telescope implant is part of the CentraSight treatment program, which is for people 65 years and older diagnosed with end-stage, age-related macular degeneration who meet specific eye health and vision requirements, and for whom common treatments such as glasses, vitamins, drugs or cataract surgery will not lead to vision improvement.

Per current labeling, the telescope implant is contraindicated in patients with previous intraocular or corneal surgery of any kind in the operative eye, including cataract surgery.

“We are excited to work directly with MellingMedical to offer the CentraSight treatment program to Americans who rely on the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs and other federally run agencies for their health care needs,” said Blake Michaels, president and CEO of VisionCare. “Now ophthalmologists working at these facilities across the country will be able to offer the telescope implant for their patients with the most severe form of AMD, which is proven to improve vision and quality of life.”