Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) is partnering with TerryWhite Chemmart to raise awareness in pharmacy about the importance of monitoring for vision changes.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible severe vision loss and blindness in Australia, impacting one in seven Australians over the age of 50. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness in working age Australians.
But despite the high prevalence of macular disease in the Australian community, an estimated 25% of cases remain undiagnosed.
To tackle this, MDFA and TerryWhite Chemmart are providing people aged 50+ with a fast, easy way to understand and assess their general risk factors for macular disease.
MDFA and TerryWhite Chemmart are providing people aged 50+ with a fast, easy way to understand and assess their general risk factors for macular disease.
As part of the partnership. TerryWhite Chemmart will be prompting customers to learn about their risk of developing AMD and diabetic eye disease, using the MDFA’s Check My Macula online quiz. The quiz also allows people to schedule an eye test with their local optometrist.
In addition, customers will be provided with a free Amsler grid to take home, allowing them to check for any changes to their vision in between eye tests.
“Our partnership with Macular Disease Foundation Australia has helped us to start conversations with patients and get these important tools into their hands,” said Brenton Hart, Chief Pharmacist at TerryWhite Chemmart, CEO of MDFA.
MDFA Chief Executive Officer Dr Kathy Chapman said pharmacists have a valuable role to play in early detection and reducing the impact of macular disease in the community.
This is fundamental to the collaboration between TerryWhite Chemmart and MDFA, Dr Chapman said.
