When did you last get your macula checked?
Macula disease is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia, and residents of the Swan Hill Rural City Council and Gannawarra Shire are being urged to take action to protect their sight during Macula Month in May.
The most common macular disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a chronic and progressive disease, which can lead to loss of central vision.
The focus of the Macula Month campaign this year is the hereditary risk of AMD. Macula Month is an initiative of Macular Disease Foundation Australia, the peak national body representing the macular disease community, their families and carers.
One in seven Australians over the age of 50 – about 1.3 million people – have some evidence of AMD, but may not know it because earlier stages of disease typically have little or no impact on vision. If you have a parent, brother or sister with AMD, you are at increased risk of AMD. You are also at a higher risk if you smoke.
Another risk factor is age. AMD primarily affects those over the age of 50, and the incidence increases as people get older. AMD can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye examination that includes a macular check. Because AMD primarily affects older people, many wrongly confuse symptoms of the disease as normal signs of ageing.
You should always check with your eye health professional about any changes in your vision. Although AMD may not become apparent until later in life, preventative measures can be started much earlier.
The most common symptoms include:
- Difficulty in reading or doing any other activity that requires fine vision
- Distortion, where straight lines appear wavy or bent
- Problems distinguishing faces
- Dark patches appearing in the centre of your vision
Top tips for optimal macular health:
- Visit an optometrist once every two years if you are 50 years and over (every year if over 65), or as advised by your eye health professional, to look for early signs of AMD
- Don’t smoke – smokers are at three to four times higher risk of AMD than non-smokers
- Exercise regularly and eat a macular friendly diet – fish two or three times a week, dark green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit daily, and a handful of nuts once a week can help reduce risks of AMD
- Protect your eyes from sunlight exposure
- Monitor changes in your vision by using an Amsler grid if you have signs of AMD – an Amsler grid is a simple tool available free from Swan Hill and Kerang Optical, or Macular Disease Foundation Australia
For more information or to make an appointment contact the team at Swan Hill or Kerang Optical or book online via our website.