It’s Macular Degeneration Awareness Week – the perfect opportunity to encourage your patients over the age of 50 to come in to have their macula checked and to send them home with an Amsler Grid so they can keep a close eye on their eye health until their next eye test.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in Australia. One in seven Australians over the age of 50 (1 million people) show some evidence of macular degeneration and according to research commissioned by the Macular Disease Foundation (MDF), this will rise 70 per cent, to 1.7 million, by 2030 in the absence of prevention and treatment measures.
The great news is that since the MDF began its campaign to raise awareness of macular degeneration, public awareness of the disease has grown exponentially – but that doesn’t mean it’s time to sit back and let the patients come to you.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]
One in seven Australians over the age of 50 (1 million people) show some evidence of macular degeneration and according to research commissioned by the Macular Disease Foundation
As an optometrist it’s essential to get your patients in, ask if they have a family history of the disease, and encourage those at risk to regularly have their macular tested. Then advise them to contact you or an ophthalmologist if they detect any change in their vision.
Simple really – yet what a difference we can make.
