Modern genetic testing is truly incredible. Today, we can screen for genetic diseases and begin treatment much earlier than in the past, allowing many potentially affected individuals the chance to enjoy a higher quality of life.
One of the leading corneal genetic disorders today is keratoconus, a condition that impacts millions of Americans every year. This is a condition in which the cornea bulges outward into a cone shape. According to the Cornea Research Foundation of America, keratoconus affects 54.5 per 100,000 people. A person with keratoconus may experience a number of vision related issues including but not limited to:
- Blurry or Cloudy Vision
- Light Sensitivity
- Double Vision
What Does AvaGen Genetic Testing Screen for Exactly?
AvaGen Genetic Testing looks at over 75 genes and 2,000 variants. It is designed to put the risk of keratoconus and other corneal disorders into perspective based on actual data. One of the best parts about this type of testing is that It’s personalized which means that it focuses on your unique genetics.
Getting Help with the AvaGen Genetic Testing Process
A simple mouth swab is all that’s needed to start the process. However, the test must be ordered by an eye care professional that can walk you through the process and help fill out the forms that go along with the sample.
Your sample is not only collected and sent off to a lab, but the lab returns a comprehensive report that has multiple points of interest, including the following:
- A full risk assessment for keratoconus since it is the most common corneal disorder.
- Examination of any variant of keratoconus, to provide extra precision in terms of treatment options.
- A full risk assessment for other corneal dystrophies, based on specific genes that are the leading cause for those conditions.
- Deep interpretation of the variant data, and what it means for you as the patient.
The report provides plenty of information for early decision-making and maximum vision health protection.
Who Can Benefit from AvaGen Genetic Testing?
There are a many different types of people that would be an ideal fit for this form of genetic testing:
- Individuals who are between 13-30 years old. This is an age range where vision typically changes the most.
- Individuals that have a family history of keratoconus
- Anyone who is considering laser vision correction in the future
- Anyone who is considering orthokeratology as this treatment can mask early signs of keratoconus
As you can see, this is a wide and diverse group that can benefit from the deep information gained from AvaGen Genetic Testing.
Schedule an AvaGen Genetic Testing Appointment Today!
If you find yourself growing increasingly worried about the impact that your genes may have on your overall eye health our team is here to assist you. Schedule an appointment today so that our eye care professionals can review the AvaGen Genetic Testing process with you. Once we receive the results of your test, we can then collaborate with you to put together a plan to treat any eye health issues that the test may find.
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