AdaptDX

Maculogix is the manufacturer of the AdaptDX – a fully automated dark adaptometer. This innovative piece of technology measures how quickly eyes can adjust from being in bright light to darkness and vice versa, and is an invaluable tool for the detection and diagnosis of macular degeneration.
 

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD, is a common progressive eye disease most often seen in people over the age of 60. It is a leading cause of permanent vision loss and any sight that has been compromised will not be able to be restored. AMD occurs when the cells in a part of the retina called the macula degenerate, usually with age, but this degeneration is also likely to happen more quickly in patients with poor lifestyle choices, such as those who are overweight, who smoke and who have high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

There are a range of symptoms associated with macular degeneration. These include:

• Reduction in central vision

• Distortion of straight lines in your central vision

• Trouble recognizing faces

• Difficulty reading, driving or watching tv

• Problems seeing in dark environments

• Generally blurred vision

One symptom is an increase in the amount of time it takes for the eyes of someone with the disease to adjust when walking from a bright environment into a dark one. This is known as dark adaptation and is something that is taken into account when diagnosing AMD. 
 

What is the Maculogix AdaptDX?

AdaptDX requires that your eye doctor to performs darkness adjustment testing in a darkroom. By shutting out all traces of light the AdaptDX assesses how well your eyes adjust to pitch black darkness.

What to expect from your appointment?

Once you have been positioned at the AdaptDX and all the light has been blocked out, you’ll be asked to look into the device and wait. Every time you see light, you’ll be asked to push down on a button that you will be holding in your hand. The technology within the instrument, times how long it takes for our photoreceptors inside your retina to respond to faint lights, then provides this information as data, which your eye doctor can then use to decide if you should receive a diagnosis of macular degeneration. This instrument is used also to monitor the functional progression of macular degeneration over time. The test is simple, painless and takes just a few minutes.
 
If you are concerned that you may be experiencing some of the symptoms associated with macular degeneration and would like more information about the condition, or to talk to someone about Maculogix AdaptDx testing, please get in touch with our office today.