AvaGen:
Early Prevention
Preemptive genetic testing opens up the advantages of early treatment for patients at risk for genetic eye disease. Onset may be delayed, symptoms may be mitigated, and outcomes may be redirected or changed.
Tactics to help slow progression
Preventive techniques for keratoconus:
- Regular eye tests for all family members above 10 years of age, especially for families with a
history of keratoconus or certain risk factors - Avoid rubbing eyes
- Follow physician instructions and immediately report issues or suspected disease
progression
- Avoid unprescribed medications, even if recommended by a keratoconus patient
- Keep eyes clean
- Protect against eye irritations
- Protect eyes while swimming and other sports
Identifying corneal dystrophies earlier

"With the prevalence of keratoconus increasing and now that effective treatments are available, it is pertinent to diagnose as early as possible to make personalized management decisions to prevent vision loss."
Melissa Barnett, OD
New opportunities for earlier disease protection
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) believes pre-symptomatic testing offers 3 potential advantages2:

A physician can administer a preventive
therapy before clinically detectable
damage to tissues has occurred


A physician can increase
surveillance for treatable
manifestations of the disease


At-risk individuals can make informed
lifestyle decisions at a time in their
lives when a disease is not yet
clinically detectable
Assessing keratoconus is multifactorial
Until now genetic information has been missing.


"Study findings suggest that we are likely seeing many more patients with keratoconus as well as patients who are at increased risk for keratoconus."
William Trattler, MD
Prevalence of keratoconus
Prevalence of keratoconus in pediatric patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
How genetic tests such as AvaGen may help

References
1. Ministry of Health Saudi Arabi website. Eye diseases. https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/EducationalContent/Diseases/Eyes/Pages/keratoconus.aspx.
Accessed August 20, 2019.
2. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Recommendations for Genetic Testing for Inherited Eye Diseases, 2014.
https://www.aao.org/clinical-statement/recommendations-genetic-testing-of-inherited-eye-d.
Accessed August 12, 2019.