A correlation may exist between patients armed with the knowledge that they’re genetically predisposed to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and their behavior, according to a study of 101 subjects published in the March issue of Optometry and Vision Science.

The study looked at patients with no personal history of AMD. It used a genetic evaluation to provide a predictive score for the patients’ likelihood for developing AMD. Of the 101 subjects, 94 were contacted for follow-up interviews. Among those interviewed, 27 said they made specific changes, such as wearing sunglasses and a brimmed hat and taking vitamin supplements. Another 16 people said that they were already doing the recommended activities, including wearing sunglasses, quitting smoking or taking vitamins.