TESTING TO MONITOR MACULAR DEGENERATION

For the first time in the United States...

Genetic testing is available for Age-Related Macular Degeneration!

If you have a family member with Macular Degeneration you have a 75% - 80% chance of developing this devastating disease. It is important to know your risk so that early treatment, if needed, can begin to prevent vision loss. Inheritance cannot be predicted but can be determined through genetic testing.

The test, which is performed on a saliva sample, is called Macula Risk® and is based on the detection of inherited genes. Studies have shown the test to be 100% accurate in identifying AMD genes and will provide you and your Eye Centers of Florida doctor with essential information so that a care plan and close monitoring may begin.

The only certain way to prevent vision loss from Age-Related Macular Degeneration is early detection and appropriate treatment. If you know your risk, you may save your sight!

Contact Eye Centers of Florida at 239.939.3456 or 1.800 226.3377 for more information on Macula Risk®.

If you wish to schedule an appointment to have the test done, call 1.888.EYEAPPT or 239.790.2444.

In keeping up with the latest technological advances and in striving to deliver better patient care, we are very excited to offer AMD monitoring with the “Foresee PHP™” device. The Foresee PHP offers a quick, painless test and provides information that is used to monitor patients with “dry” macular degeneration. The device is very helpful in assisting our ophthalmologists with catching this disease right upon conversion to the rapidly-progressing, vision-threatening “wet” form of the disease, before irreversible vision loss occurs.

A major reason for the devastating effects of macular degeneration has been a lack of effective monitoring tools to detect the conversion from dry to wet macular degeneration. Reliance on older, outdated techniques often results in diagnosis that is too late - after the disease has been wet for enough time that retinal damage and vision loss have already occurred.
Treatment for wet macular degeneration works best early on, right when the disease converts to its wet form. If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, call to schedule a Doctor consultation to determine if you are a candidate for testing with the Foresee PHP.