Can an eye transplant cure Macular Degeneration? No. Medical technology is not yet advanced enough to transplant the entire eye. It is simply impossible to reconnect the nerves leading from the eye to the brain. What you may have heard referred to as an "eye transplant" is probably the process of corneal transplantation, which is a valuable vision saving procedure for some people, but unfortunately has no relationship to the problems in the eye caused by Macular Degeneration. However, retinal cell transplantation is a procedure that may have promise for people with Macular Degeneration in the future, although it is still in its early experimental stages Retinal cell transplantation is described below. Many aids, services, and techniques are available to assist people with Macular Degeneration while conducting the daily business of living: cooking, cleaning, reading the mail, etc. They include orientation and mobility training (which include learning to travel with a white cane or guide dog), control of illumination and contrast, and special lenses. As technology advances, these assistive devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and helpful to people with Macular Degeneration. Specialised computer programmes, electronic devices and even a voice programme for cell phones are available from specialist providers. Contact Retina South Africa for information about services and resources in your area.

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