New test to predict AMD

Soon, a doctor could find out whether you are likely to have macular degeneration even before you have any inkling of the eye disease.

Scientists have developed a new test to identify people who are genetically predisposed to AMD, opening the way to earlier detection and treatment.

The test is called Macular Risk and has been developed by ArcticDX, a Canadian company, and Cambridge Enterprise, the commercial arm of Cambridge University. It will be available worldwide next year.

During the test, swabs of saliva will be analysed to look for genes which indicate that a patient has a high probability of developing the disease.

ArcticDX president Greg Hines said: "This will be the first time that clinicians will be able to diagnose the condition before symptoms arise.This provides the opportunity for targeted patient education and routine eye examinations that offer early detection and disease management.

"Macular Degeneration is a disease that can be arrested but it is not reversible. It is important to offer earlier treatment regimens that may arrest the disease before significant vision loss occurs."

ArcticDX has secured license for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the complement C3 gene that has been shown to be a predictive indicator for the genetic diagnosis of AMD.

This breakthrough came after six years of research. The manufacturers said that the ideal candidate for the test would be someone in their 50s with a family history of the condition.