Protecting your eyes. Preventing macular degeneration.

We’ve just added an exciting new test to our Advanced Eye Examinations. It’s called MP-Eye and it measures the level of macular pigments in your eyes.

Understanding the science

What are macular pigments? Put simply, they’re your eye’s natural protection against bright light and oxidative damage. More scientifically, they’re molecules known as carotenoids, which sit just in front of your light sensitive photoreceptors and essentially act as sunglasses for your retina. The higher density of macular pigments you have, the better your retina is
protected from the high-energy visible (HEV) violet-blue light found in the sun, LED lights and digital devices.

Learn more about blue light.

Macular Pigments, your first line of defence

The reason macular pigments are so important is that they can absorb as much as 90% of damaging HEV light before it reaches your retina. This protects the retina of course and also counters the adverse effects of photochemical damage so you are less likely to develop cell deterioration and age-related macular degeneration. The problem is you can’t tell how much macular pigment you have simply by looking in a mirror. You’ll need a special optometric test to assess your own level of protection.

Read about macular pigments.

MP-Eye. The one minute test.

Our new test is a great step forward. It takes less than a minute to measure the level of macular pigments in your eyes. Even better, as macular pigment density is affected by lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, drinking alcohol and exercise, we can recommend changes you can make in your daily lives to improve your resistance.

Taking the MP-Eye test is a positive first step to protecting your eyes and reducing the risk of macular degeneration. Book an appointment online or call us on 01661 832564.