There are many established risk factors for developing macular degeneration.  However, up until now there has not been a tool to analyze not only one’s risk factors, like age, gender, lifestyle and family history, but also to combine that information with clinical reports, such as the presence of macular drusen or the density of the macular pigment.

How Does It Work?

Patients are asked many questions regarding diet, smoking, eye UV protection, supplements, family history, exercise, hypertension etc.   The answers are entered into an on-line proprietary software.  The software processes the information – including the results of several eye tests.   The software then provides, “ an estimate of the overall risk of an individual patient developing consequentially AMD at any given age between 55 and 100 years.”

Who Developed SightRisk AMD Calculator?

Based in Waterford Ireland, Sightrisk Ltd. is a “vision science company which provides online analytical tools to eyecare professionals in order to identify people who are at risk of developing age-related eye diseases.”  The company was established in May 2008 by a team of macular degeneration experts. Professor John M. Nolan is a PhD with a special interest in nutrition and macular pigment and is the Director of the Macular Pigment Research Group at the Waterford Institute of Technology.  Graham O’Regan is an optometrist who also has studied applied physics, statistics and mathematics.  Professor Stephen Beatty has been involved in macular degeneration research since 1998 and is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon.

How Does the Patient Benefit?

A printed personal risk assessment with recommendations on how to lower one’s chances  of developing AMD is provided to the patient.   Patients are often more motivated to make positive changes in their lifestyle and diet when they see their own personalized risk presented to them.  They also receive counseling by a health professional or staff person to help them understand the impact these recommendations can make in helping them to maintain healthy vision by delaying or preventing this retinal condition that causes the loss of central vision.

Where Can I Find an Eye Doctor Who Offers the Sightrisk AMD Calculator?

Bausch and Lomb currently distributes this software program to countries in Europe and to the United States.  Sensus Zien is the distributer for Holland and ebiga-Vision for Germany.   SightRisk USA officially launched its software at the Vision Expo West in Las Vegas on September 17, 2015.   For more information and to watch a video by Professor John Nolan about Sightrisk go to:

www.sightrisk.com

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com