New gene discovery helps eye research
The discovery of a precise gene which contributes to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will now help doctors predict people at risk and enable them to adapt diet and lifestyle.
It means that anyone can take a simple blood test to find out if they are up to 700% more likely to develop AMD than the average person, a test which is particularly important to those who have a family history of blinding eye conditions.
This test, which is strongly predictive of AMD, will allow people with high risk for AMD to adapt diet and lifestyle changes to lower their risk or delay the onset of the disease and the discovery is expected to lead to new and effective treatments for the disease.
Discovery of the gene, known as HTRA1, was made by researchers at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah and is reported online in the journal ‘Science’.
AMD is a degenerative disorder affecting a portion of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for clear, central vision. Individuals with AMD have difficulty with activities like reading, watching television, and seeing faces of people directly across the table. The disease often leads to legal blindness in patients older than age 60.
