Geographic atrophy represents the devastating end-stage of dry age-related macular degeneration, progressively destroying central vision with no FDA-approved treatments until recently. For millions facing this irreversible blindness, any intervention that meaningfully slows retinal deterioration could preserve years of functional sight. A remarkable 13-year case study documents sustained neuroprotective benefits from a single ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) implant, offering hope for long-term vision preservation strategies. The NT-501 implant demonstrated consistent protective effects throughout the observation period, with the treated eye showing 16.3% slower macular atrophy progression compared to the untreated contralateral eye. Macular geographic atrophy expanded from 4.51 to 14.46 square millimeters in the implanted eye versus 3.2 to 14.92 square millimeters in the control eye, representing growth rates of 0.21 versus 0.26 millimeters per year. Peripapillary atrophy showed even more dramatic differences, progressing five times slower in the treated eye. This extended follow-up provides unprecedented insight into CNTF's durability as a neuroprotective intervention. While single-case studies have inherent limitations regarding bilateral disease variability, the consistent pattern across multiple imaging modalities and anatomical regions strengthens the findings. CNTF's mechanism involves supporting retinal ganglion cell survival and photoreceptor maintenance through Jak-STAT pathway activation. The implant's one-time surgical placement offers significant advantages over repeated injections, potentially transforming treatment paradigms for geographic atrophy. Though larger controlled trials remain essential, this case demonstrates that sustained neuroprotection may meaningfully alter the natural history of this blinding condition.