Azul Optics is a startup from the University of Bristol, founded in 2016. The company has developed a novel method for assessing macular pigment density—a key risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of incurable sight loss. Their approach is faster and more user-friendly than existing technologies and has recently proven effective in children, an important demographic given the rising rates of myopia and the associated risk of myopic macular degeneration. Early and lifelong prevention can significantly reduce these risks.
Azul Optics designed, clinically tested, and commercialized this method through the MP-eye, a Class 1 medical device manufactured in Bristol and now sold in over a dozen countries worldwide.
The MP-eye enables optometrists and ophthalmologists to quickly and non-invasively measure macular pigment density. Individuals with low levels receive tailored lifestyle and product recommendations to help boost their pigment density and address other AMD risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, high BMI, excessive sunlight exposure, and physical inactivity.
