Arming AMD patients with knowledge

More and more companies are looking for novel ways to educate both eye-care professionals and patients about age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Below are a few of the newer training materials available.

Sight Matters

Bausch + Lomb has launched “Sight Matters,” for the community of 800,000 people living with AMD. The new online resource, which was specifically designed for the visually impaired with an increased font size and distinctive color contrast between different elements in the site, will help patients take charge of their condition by offering a singular resource that is clear, concise and offers actionable content as opposed to the often dense and overwhelming information currently available.

By having access to personalized tips and tools, patients with AMD will learn how to take charge of their condition and have the opportunity to join a supportive online community of others living with AMD.

SightMatters.com will provide patients with the information they need to manage their AMD, according to the company.

“With its ‘AMD Action Plan’ questionnaire, patients can receive a personalized plan to understand the changes needed in their daily lives and how to check for signs and symptoms of AMD, so they can help reduce their risk of progression,” said Joe Gordon, U.S. president, Bausch + Lomb.

“SightMatters.com is part of our ongoing commitment to help protect and enhance sight for the millions of patients who need to navigate life with AMD - no matter where they are on their journey.”

Among the topics the site covers for patients:

• Understand Macular Degeneration. “Knowledge is Power,” the site notes. The introduction provides patients with “all you need to know about AMD - from wet vs dry to causes and treatments.” It also covers what patients can expect and how the disease may progress, an option to “ask the experts,” news and research, and a glossary.

• Take Action to Protect Your Vision. This section of the site includes “changes you can make in your daily life” that may help patients reduce the risk of progression of AMD. The site provides options to help patients make an AMD Action Plan that includes a list of the “best foods” for AMD, exercise for AMD, and information about the AREDS formula eye vitamins.

• Connect and Find Support. Noting that AMD “is a journey,” the site offers experts who can help patients navigate the disease and treatment state. The site also promotes its Facebook community.

Bausch + Lomb will also continue its four-year collaboration with Prevent Blindness, donating $1 up to $50,000 to Prevent Blindness for every “like” or “share” on a SightMatters Facebook post promoting AMD Awareness Month from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 2019. In addition, Bausch + Lomb will sponsor Prevent Blindness vision screenings at events across the country.

“We value our longstanding collaboration with Bausch + Lomb, to help bring awareness to this pervasive condition, and the importance of checking now versus later to catch AMD early,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO, Prevent Blindness. “By working with Bausch + Lomb for the fourth consecutive year, we can continue to encourage people to prioritize their eye health.”

AMD Academy

MacuLogix launched its “AMD Academy” in 2018. The AMD Academy is an online learning community for current AdaptDx users, delivering video-based product training and a user forum to facilitate discussion of best practices and answers to user questions.

The AMD Academy launched with a comprehensive learning plan for the AdaptDx automated dark adaptometer, featuring 21 short, video-based learning modules. Both novice and experienced users have access to the discussion forum and can access the learning modules at any time.

According to MacuLogix, The Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ALSTAR study) tracked 325 adults age 60 and older.¹ 

Each subject had normal macular health, as verified by clinical exam and grading of fundus photographs. When dark adaptation was assessed, 24% of subjects showed dark adaptation impairment at baseline.

Three years later, the subjects with impaired dark adaptation were two times more likely to have AMD and eight times more likely to have advanced beyond the earliest stage of AMD. In fact, the study showed a positive correlation between degree of dark adaptation impairment and severity of AMD. At the follow-up visit, all subjects with severe AMD were identified as having dark adaptation impairment at baseline.

MacuLogix also offers clinicians e-books that include practical guidelines for treating AMD, perspectives on diagnosis and management of AMD, and clinical insights on AMD.

References:

1. Owsley C, McGwin G Jr, Clark ME, et al. Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation is a functional biomarker for incident early age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(2):344-51.