A new home-testing kit to diagnose AMD has been launched by Optegra Eyecare, enabling men and women in the UK to identify their own personal risk factor of contracting AMD.
Optegra, which is working with Asper Biotech, explained that its £399 Genetic Testing Service kit requires patients to give a small saliva sample and the completed test is posted back to the Optegra Eye Hospital in Guildford for analysis.
Patients are offered a free AMD counselling service where specific steps are identified to give the patient the best possible protection against AMD. A full patient report with the test results is also provided.
Optegra managing director Paul Cowling said: 'Genetic testing takes us one step closer to being a leader in eye health innovation in the UK marketplace and reinforces our reputation for providing unrivalled patient care and service. The new technology allows the ageing UK population to ascertain their risk of developing AMD, the leading cause of blindness on a global scale, and empowers them to take the necessary steps to control the onset of the disease.'
However, the Royal National Institute of Blind People has condemned the kit (TimesOnline February 23), warning it should not be a substitute for regular eye checks and professional advice from an optician.
