MPRG and SightRisk in the Irish Independent
A supplement from MediaPlanet distributed with The Irish Independent
Is your lifestyle putting you at risk of blindness?
Age-related Macular Degeneration is an eye disease which may affect over 100,000 people in Ireland. Identifying potential risk factors has never been of greater importance. It is estimated that 15 per cent of the population in Ireland know of someone with the blinding disease of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that significantly educes lifestyle quality and independence. The Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF), the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG), and Sightrisk Ltd. are working together to prevent this devastating eye disease.
Age-related macular degeneration is a disease of the macula, the central part of the retina, which results in loss of central vision. It is the leading cause of age-related blindness in the western world, and it is estimated that this disease affects approximately 80,000 people in the Republic of Ireland, and a further 30,000 people may suffer unknwingly from AMD. The increasing worldwide prevalence of AMD is largely attributable to increasing longevity and lifestyle changes associated with western society. People with AMD lose their ability to read, recognise faces, watch television and drive. AMD therefore has a significant impact on independence and quality of life. It is predicted that the current prevalence of AMD will double by 2020. In addition, the cost of vision loss and visual impairment to society and to health care providers continues to rise, with significant economic implications.
Macular pigment is a yellow pigment found at the macula. Macular pigment is composed of the dietary carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. Macula pigment absorbs short-wavelength (blue) light pre-receptorally, and scavenges and neutralises free radicals. It is unsurprising, therefore, that this pigment is believed to protect against AMD, because both blue light damage and free radicals are known to contribute to this condition.
Current research has shown that diet is one of the most important risk factors, along with family history and smoking. The Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF) was established in 2004 by Mr. Stephen Beatty, and is a registered charity (NO. CHY16598). WORF aims to facilitate and support healthcare workers in the South East of Ireland who are involved in the educational aspects of blindness and visual impairment, and to facilitate research into the causes of blindness. WORF currently supports several projects aimed at investigating means of preventing AMD. One of these groups is the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG, www.wit.ie/mprg), which was established in 2001 at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. The MPRG currently employs 13 researchers, fie part- time and eight full-time. The research is aimed at enhancing The Sightrisk Directors: Dr John Nolan PhD, Mr Stephen Beatty MD, Graham O’Regan BSc FCOptom the current understanding of AMD, with emphasis on the role that nutrition might play in the prevention, delay, or modification of this diseas.
Smokers, people with a family history of AMD, those who are overweight and those with a poor diet lacking in antioxidants are at increased risk of developing AMD. Recent research by the MPRG has shown that individuals between the ages of 20 and 60 years who are at increased risk of developing AMD have a relative lack of macular pigment. The MPRG believes in prevention rather than cure, and therefore the priority is to provide screening for AMD and to identify potential risk factors. The MPRG is working closely with Whitfield Clinics Institute of Vision Research in Waterford to provide screening for AMD. This AMD risk assessment clinic is the fist of its type in Ireland.
The clinic’s objective is to identify the “at risk” individual rather than the AMD suffeer. Following a full AMD risk assessment, the doctors inform and advise the “at risk” individual how best to reduce their risk of developing AMD. In addition to vision, dietary and blood analysis, part of this screening process will utilise the Sightrisk risk assessment calculator. This is a web-based tool developed by vision scientists, mathematicians and ophthalmological consultants. The tool can be found at www.sightrisk.com, a website which is primarily a source of information provided by leading experts in the fields of vision and utrition. After the user inputs the information into the online calculator, the patient’s risk factors, such as family history of AMD, cigarette smoking, BMI, and intake of fruit and vegetables are taken into consideration and the software predicts the risk of the patient developing AMD at any given age from 55 to 100. The software also identifies aeas where the patient can best improve his or her lifestyle to minimise the risk of developing AMD in later life. The Sightrisk software is already in use in many optometry practices across Europe. Sightrisk software has helped to identify thousands of “at risk” individuals who are now benefiting fom the advice, encouragement and incentive to actively improve their lifestyle and therefore significantly educe their risk of developing this devastating disease in later years. To make a donation to Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF) visit www.mycharity.ie/charity/WORF or contact Lorna Rushe at lrushe@wit.ie or on 051 845505
A supplement from MediaPlanet distributed with The Irish Independent
Is your lifestyle putting you at risk of blindness?
Age-related Macular Degeneration is an eye disease which may afect over 100,000 people in Ireland. Identifying potential risk factors has never been of greater importance. It is estimated that 15 per cent of the population in Ireland know of someone with the blinding disease of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that significantly educes lifestyle quality and independence. The Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF), the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG), and Sightrisk Ltd. are working together to prevent this devastating eye disease.
Age-related macular degeneration is a disease of the macula, the central part of the retina, which results in loss of central vision. It is the leading cause of age-related blindness in the western world, and it is estimated that this disease affects approximately 80,000 people in the Republic of Ireland, and a further 30,000 people may suffer unknwingly from AMD. The increasing worldwide prevalence of AMD is largely attributable to increasing longevity and lifestyle changes associated with western society. People with AMD lose their ability to read, recognise faces, watch television and drive. AMD therefore has a significant impact on independence and quality of life. It is predicted that the current prevalence of AMD will double by 2020. In addition, the cost of vision loss and visual impairment to society and to health care providers continues to rise, with significant economic implications.
Macular pigment is a yellow pigment found at the macula. Macular pigment is composed of the dietary carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. Macular pigment absorbs short-wavelength (blue) light pre-receptorally, and scavenges and neutralises free radicals. It is unsurprising, therefore, that this pigment is believed to protect against AMD, because both blue light damage and free radicals are known to contribute to this condition.
Current research has shown that diet is one of the most important risk factors, along with family history and smoking. The Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF) was established in 2004 by Mr. Stephen Beatty, and is a registered charity (NO. CHY16598). WORF aims to facilitate and support healthcare workers in the South East of Ireland who are involved in the educational aspects of blindness and visual impairment, and to facilitate research into the causes of blindness. WORF currently supports several projects aimed at investigating means of preventing AMD. One of these groups is the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG, www.wit.ie/mprg), which was established in 2001 at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. The MPRG currently employs 13 researchers, fie part- time and eight full-time. The research is aimed at enhancing The Sightrisk Directors: Dr John Nolan PhD, Mr Stephen Beatty MD, Graham O’Regan BSc FCOptom the current understanding of AMD, with emphasis on the role that nutrition might play in the prevention, delay, or modification of this diseas.
Smokers, people with a family history of AMD, those who are overweight and those with a poor diet lacking in antioxidants are at increased risk of developing AMD. Recent research by the MPRG has shown that individuals between the ages of 20 and 60 years who are at increased risk of developing AMD have a relative lack of macular pigment. The MPRG believes in prevention rather than cure, and therefore the priority is to provide screening for AMD and to identify potential risk factors. The MPRG is working closely with Whitfield Clinics Institute of Vision Research in Waterford to provide screening for AMD. This AMD risk assessment clinic is the fist of its type in Ireland.
The clinic’s objective is to identify the “at risk” individual rather than the AMD suffeer. Following a full AMD risk assessment, the doctors inform and advise the “at risk” individual how best to reduce their risk of developing AMD. In addition to vision, dietary and blood analysis, part of this screening process will utilise the Sightrisk risk assessment calculator. This is a web-based tool developed by vision scientists, mathematicians and ophthalmological consultants. The tool can be found at www.sightrisk.com, a website which is primarily a source of information provided by leading experts in the fields of vision and utrition. After the user inputs the information into the online calculator, the patient’s risk factors, such as family history of AMD, cigarette smoking, BMI, and intake of fruit and vegetables are taken into consideration and the software predicts the risk of the patient developing AMD at any given age from 55 to 100. The software also identifies aeas where the patient can best improve his or her lifestyle to minimise the risk of developing AMD in later life. The Sightrisk software is already in use in many optometry practices across Europe. Sightrisk software has helped to identify thousands of “at risk” individuals who are now benefiting fom the advice, encouragement and incentive to actively improve their lifestyle and therefore significantly educe their risk of developing this devastating disease in later years. To make a donation to Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund (WORF) visit www.mycharity.ie/charity/WORF or contact Lorna Rushe at lrushe@wit.ie or on 051 845505
You can view or download the full article as a PDF by clicking here. MPRG and SightRisk in the Irish Independent