Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness  for people over the age of 55. ARMD is a very common genetic condition that affects the macula of the eye. The macula is located at the center of the retina and is the part of the eye that gives us central vision, allowing one to read, drive and watch TV.

Several studies show that over 40% of people in India over the age of 60 are affected by ARMD. Studies were conducted across all areas in India not specific to any region or city.

Poor eyesight as one ages is very often attributed to needing a change in corrective lenses, but it is just as likely to be due to ARMD, which is often not diagnosed. Left untreated ARMD will lead to blindness.

Diagnosis and Risk Factors

The macula provides us with central vision and when it is damaged, extreme and dramatic vision loss occurs. There are two types of ARMD, known as wet ARMD and dry ARMD.

20% of all ARMD cases are wet ARMD is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels across the macula. VEGF injections or laser surgery have a ~70% success rate in improving vision in cases of wet ARMD.

80% of all ARMD cases are dry ARMD. Drusen formation in the eye causes the macula to stop functioning ideally and leads to blank areas in your central vision. There is no known treatment for dry ARMD. The only way to treat dry ARMD is early detection and high dosages of specific vitamin supplements to slow down the disease progression before any vision loss is experienced.

In both types, treatment with specific vitamins is critical to protect your vision. These vitamins are called AREDS vitamins, named after a large clinical trial carried out by the National Eye Institute of NIH in the US.

The ARMD Genetic Supplement Test

Recent advances in genetics, has shown that not all people react to the AREDS vitamins in the same way. Depending on your genetic profile, you may need to take the NORMAL AREDS vitamins, a NO-ZINC AREDS vitamin formulation or a HIGH-ZINC AREDS vitamin formulation.

GPH Biotech provides a genetic test that allows you to identify your specific genetic makeup so as to be able to select the correct vitamin supplement that will significantly reduce your risk of going blind from this disease.

The test requires just 5 minutes of your time and a tiny sample of your DNA, which is taken using a completely painless brush swab from the inner cheek surface of your mouth. Your samples are then sent to our research laboratory in Menlo Park, California, USA for analysis and diagnosis.

We will provide your referral health care professional with a report within 1 week, that will guide your eye-care health provider to recommend the genetically-corrected vitamin supplement that will reduce your individual risk of going blind from macular degeneration.