News & Views
'How's your macula?'
21 April 2008
Macular Degeneration (MD) is the leading cause of blindness in Australia, and the MD Foundation is using this year's Awareness Week (25-31 May) to highlight the importance of having regular eye examinations involving checking the macula.
If you are reading this you're probably already aware of the need for regular eye examinations, and familiar with our examinations which take a photographic record of the macula area. But spend a moment or two to think about others around, especially those aged 60 or older. When was the last time they had a full eye examination? 5 years? 10 years? MD is more common in the elderly, yet many write off their deteriorating vision just as an inevitability of getting older, or don't like to make a fuss. An older relative may not read anymore saying 'there's nothing worth reading these days'. They could be right, but equally part of their frustration with reading may be due to reduced vision. There used to be no effective treatments for MD, but in recent years some types of MD can be treated, making regular examinations all the more important.
So this awareness week, don't just ask 'How's my macula?' when you have your regular eye exam, but ask 'How's your macula?' to an older relative, neighbour, or friend. If they don't know, suggest an eye examination, and you may have helped to save their sight.