She had already lost central vision in her right eye when, three years ago, the sight in her left eye suddenly deteriorated aggressively, caused by a condition called wet macula degeneration.

Excessive vascular growth damages the macula, the part of the eye that translates light into image signals.

According to the RNIB, Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina, and causes a reduction in vision there.

But mouse retinas lack the macula, a key region found in human eyes that picks out fine details, so they are not an ideal model.

“These are all rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients that protect your macula,” she says.