A Nuneaton-based opticians has good news for people who could suffer with age-related macula degeneration after taking delivery of a special piece of kit to help diagnose the problem.

Age-related macula degeneration is the biggest cause of blindness in the western world, and now Jason Rice I-Care, which also has a branch in Radford, has taken delivery of an MPOD eye scanner.

The scanner is one of just a handful in the country and the firm's Fay Rice said: "People are not all that aware of the disease itself and the potential damage it may cause.

"It's vital that people get checked regularly to ensure they have healthy eyes."

The MPOD scanner - MPOD means macular pigment optical density - examines for a disorder of the centre of the retina, called the macula, by measuring the density of the eye's pigment.

Older people are most prone to suffer from the condition, with people over the age of 60 being particularly at risk.

In the UK it’s estimated that one in 50 people over 50 years of age, and up to one in five people over the age of 85, have age-related macula degeneration. A person is at greater risk of developing the condition if they smoke, have high blood pressure, or if someone in the family has the condition.

And, to highlight the condition, the Macula Disease Society is organising a week of events between 19th to 25th September.

Fay added: "We would welcome anyone who thinks they are at risk, or who simply wants to put their mind at rest, to arrange an appointment so we can carry out an examination.

"The prevention of age-related macula degeneration is important to all of us but the fact remains that the older you are the more prone you are to suffer from this condition which could, ultimately, lead to blindness."

A full-screening with the new equipment takes just 15 minutes. Patients leave the practice with a print-out of their macular condition, which can be compared at subsequent visits.

*  Jason Rice I-Care Ltd has been dealing with satisfied clients since 1983 and now have two branches.

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