BOSTON -- Age-related macular degeneration robs otherwise healthy people of their sight. Until now, there's been little hope for the millions of people suffering from the disease, WCVB medical editor Dr. Timothy Johnson reported.

JoAnn Preece, 84, decided to participate in a clinical trial at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, where she had a telescopic lens implanted into her eye in 2003.

Tiny Telescope In Eye Restoring Vision

"It's like you're in a fog," she said. "I stopped driving, which was a big thing for me and I stopped reading," she said.

Dr. Kathryn Colby, who led a part of the clinical trial said, "Over 90 percent of the patients improved two lines in vision. Now, that's measured vision in your doctor's office, reading letters. So, that's a significant improvement."

"But what was more important," she added,"is we looked at quality of life measures. Can you write a check out? Can you keep from kicking your cat when you're walking around? Can you see your grandson's face?"

For Preece, the answer is yes. She is now able to look out the sixth floor window at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and see the cars driving by below on Storrow Drive. Before the surgery, those cars -- and everything else -- would have appeared blurry.

"It's like you're in a fog. I can tell there's somebody there but I couldn't tell you who it was," she said.

Besides better vision, there's another lasting effect of the surgery for Preece. The telescopic lens gives her eye a bit of a sparkle.

When people notice the shine in Preece's eye, she replies with a giggle, "I have a permanent glint in my eye," and she then explains why she has a miniature telescope implanted into her eye.

The device was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It remains unclear if insurance companies and Medicare will pay for the $20,000 surgery and device, but Colby said she is optimistic they will.