ICO annual conference May 15-17AMD Week Sep 20th - 25th, 2010
20 September 2010 - 25 September 2010
AMD Week launches on September 21 with a nationwide testing campaign for the over 50s.
AMD or Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of registered blindness in Ireland; according to the AMD alliance it affects one in ten people over 50. AMD is not as well known as other eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma but it is the leading cause of legal blindness for people over the age of 50 in the Western World.
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists together with the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI),Fighting Blindness and supported by Novartis, are working together to increase public awareness on how to spot the symptoms of AMD and to highlight that early referral is key.
AMD affects the macular, the central part of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for the ‘straight-ahead’ vision necessary for everyday activities, like reading, driving, telling the time or identifying faces.
AMD can take away a person’s independence and confidence, and can lead to depression. There are two types of AMD, dry and wet.
Although wet AMD is the minority form of the disease it is very aggressive and accounts for 90% of blindness caused by this condition.
Wet AMD is associated with the growth of new blood vessels in the macula (angiogenesis). These vessels are fragile and leak fluid and blood, leading to the development of scar tissue that destroys the macula.
Dara Kilmartin, Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Eye & Ear Hospital in Dublin said: "Treatment options have dramatically improved in the past few years. Thankfully these treatments available for AMD can improve patients’ sight but it is important that AMD is treated quickly."
Patrick Quinn CEO of Fighting Blindness, said: “We know that only a quarter of those diagnosed with AMD in Ireland every year are reaching centres where they can be treated on time.
“The consequence of this means that many Irish people are losing useful vision that can lead to a better quality of life unnecessarily. Fortunately significant work is being undertaken in Ireland to educate the public on the importance of regular eye examinations and the treatment options available to them.”
The most obvious symptoms of AMD are distortion and blurring in the centre of vision. Des Kenny, NCBI’s Chief Executive, said: “Vision loss can have a huge emotional and practical impact on a person and affect their ability to live independently.
“The earlier that a person identifies that they have a problem with their sight, the sooner they can make the adjustments which will help them maintain a full and independent life."
For further information on AMD please visit our 'Eye Conditions' page on this site