Macular Degeneration

AMD Center of Excellence®

About AdaptDx

People with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) often do not know they have the disease during its early stages. They may dismiss early warning signs, like trouble seeing at night, as part of the normal aging process. Ignoring these symptoms only delays diagnosis, which can lead to more vision loss.

As an AMD Center of Excellence® we offer a new test that helps us diagnose AMD at a very early stage and monitor disease progression. If you are experiencing problems seeing at night, or it is becoming increasing difficult to read in dim light, talk to us about scheduling an AdaptDx® test.

AdaptDx Dark Adaptometer

The AdaptDx [adapt-dee-ex] aids in the detection and management of AMD. It measures the time it takes for your vision to adjust to the dark. This is called dark adaptation. The simple test takes less than 10 minutes. You’ll look into the device in a darkened room and press a button every time you see a flashing light. Nothing will touch your eye. If the AdaptDx test indicates signs of early AMD, you and your doctor have valuable time to develop a plan to delay disease progression.

What is RI?

“RI” stands for Rod Intercept™,the time it takes for the eye to adjust from bright light to darkness When you take the AdaptDx test, the device calculates your RI number and provides your doctor with critical information to help determine your AMD status.

Is the AdaptDx test covered by insurance?

We may be able to bill the test to your insurance provider if there is a medical diagnosis related to AMD or you are experiencing trouble seeing, If not, the AdaptDx test may require a modest out-of-pocket expense.

What should I expect during the test?

About AMD

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is the leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries and affects nearly 1 in 8 adults over the age of 60. AMD is a chronic, progressive disease that attacks the macula, a part of the retina that allows us to see objects located straight ahead of us. The macula is responsible for your central vision, which allows you to do things like recognize faces, read, and watch TV

Early Detection is available!

Identifying AMD early allows an eye doctor to take action before significant vision loss has occurred. Putting a treatment plan in place at the earliest possible time will preserve as much vision as possible over a longer duration. Drs. Dobbins and Letourneau Eyecare is among the first in the area to offer patients a test to detect AMD in its earliest stages before irreversible damage to the retina has occurred. The diagnostic aid, AdaptDx®, offers a simple, noninvasive test measuring dark adaptation, the earliest symptom, and biomarker for AMD. We can indicate the presence of the disease at least three years before it becomes clinically evident.

The AdaptDx® test lasts less than 10 minutes and can easily fit into a comprehensive eye examination. Prevent blindness with this disease, get tested today!

Some facts about the disease:

• What many people don’t realize is that AMD is 3 times more common than glaucoma – making it the leading cause of adult blindness in the U.S.
• 11.2 million Americans have it
• 1 out of 14 patients over the age of 40 have the disease
• 1 out of 8 patients over the age of 60 have the disease
• 1 out of 3 patients over the age of 75 have the disease
• Patients with the disease have a declining ability to adjust from day vision to night vision (impaired dark adaptation)
• By measuring how fast the patient’s eyes adapt to the dark, we can identify the disease early before the doctor can see changes with imaging. At least 3 years earlier than sophisticated imaging.
• Early detection with the treatment of supplements, diet, and exercise, systemic disease management, and retinal protection can slow the progression and prevent blindness.