February is Macular Degeneration Awareness Month – Are You at Risk?

Age Related Macular Degeneration- Are you at Risk?

Having a family member with Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) increases your risk by 50%.  Due to recent studies, we have a better understanding of which genes increase your risk. At VisionArts Eyecare Center, we now offer a simple in-office cheek swab DNA test called Macula Risk PGx ^® to aid in the detection and prevention of AMD.  This test is a combination of the Macula Risk^® test that allows us to identify a person’s individual risk of progressing to advanced macular degeneration and the Vita Risk^TM test that determines the best vitamin formula for you based on your genetic makeup.

Are you already taking an eye formula to help prevent the progression of AMD?  The same studies mentioned above revealed that certain genes influence the success or failure of zinc in vitamin formulas.  Commonly consumed zinc supplements can even be harmful and accelerate the progression of macular degeneration.  It is imperative that patients at risk of Macular Degeneration undergo the Vita Risk^TM test in order to determine the appropriate vitamin formula for them.  Without this knowledge, the eye vitamin formula you take every day could actually be causing your condition to progress more quickly!

Visit Our Eye Care Center in Fulton, MO

VisionArts Eyecare Center is the only practice in the area to offer these new tests.  If you are concerned about AMD or the eye vitamin formula you are taking, call us today to set up an appointment for Macula Risk PGx^® or VitaRisk^TM testing.