Macular Disease
Macular disease covers a range of diseases and conditions that impact central vision and is the leading cause of legal blindness in Australia.
This month, we will be helping our members and customers learn more about the risk factors contributing to Macular disease. You can read more about this below as well as calculate your own risk through the Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s online quiz that can be found here.
Whilst there is currently no cure for Macular Disease, some people will benefit from effective sight-saving treatment. If you, or someone you know, is at risk or would like to find out more, book an eye test with one of our friendly optometrists today.
Diabetic Retinopathy
The leading cause of vision loss in working-age Australians is diabetic retinopathy (DR) with up to a third of Australian’s living with some form of DR.
Careful control of your diabetes combined with regular eye exams may assist in the prevention of vision loss, especially as early stages of disease typically have no symptoms.
Remember, the longer you’ve had diabetes, the greater your risk of diabetic eye disease. But with support, the right advice, and access to the right treatments you can overcome these challenges.
Age-related macular degeneration
The most common macular disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a chronic and painless disease of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision. As AMD progresses, it destroys central vision making it difficult to recognise faces, read or drive a car.
Approximately 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 have signs of AMD and may not even know it. Some noticeable symptoms include
- Difficulty reading
- Distortion of straight lines
- Difficulty distinguishing faces
- Dark or blurry patches in your central vision
Some major risk factors of AMD include age, family history of AMD, smoking and poor nutrition.
While there is no cure for AMD, in some cases there are ways to reduce risk of disease progression. Speak to one of our friendly optometrists today to see if these are appropriate for you.
Book an eye exam with one of our friendly optometrists today