Azul Optics is developing a device that can rapidly assess macular pigment density. The device will be affordable, fast, easy-to-use and compact, making it easy to integrate macular pigment density screening into regular eye exams.

Macular pigments, which we get from our diet, play a protective role in the eye. They act like the eye’s natural sunglasses, blocking harmful blue-wavelength light from hitting the region of the eye responsible for our central vision. These pigments also help visual performance, improving contrast sensitivity and reducing glare. Low volumes of these pigments are also considered to be a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of incurable blindness in the western world.