You could have early signs of macular diseases without even knowing it.

In Macular May, book an appointment to see your optometrist for a macula check.

Early action can save your sight.

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects thousands of people in Australia and can have a significant impact on people’s lives, affecting their independence, mobility, and ability to carry out daily tasks.

It is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia. The most common macular diseases are age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease, including diabetic macular oedema (DMO).

The good news is early action can save your sight. Diet and lifestyle changes and detecting macular disease early can prevent vision loss.
How Macular Degeneration Affects People’s Lives
  1. Loss of independence: Macular degeneration can make it difficult to carry out tasks such as driving, cooking, and shopping, leading to a loss of independence.
  2. Social isolation: As vision loss progresses, it can become difficult to recognise faces and read social cues, leading to social isolation and depression.
  3. Reduced mobility: People with macular degeneration may find it difficult to navigate unfamiliar environments, leading to reduced mobility and an increased risk of falls.
  4. Increased risk of accidents: Macular degeneration can make it difficult to see hazards such as steps and curbs, increasing the risk of accidents.
Why it is Essential to See an Optometrist

Regular eye exams are essential for detecting and managing macular degeneration. Your optometrist can detect the early signs of macular degeneration and provide appropriate treatment to slow down the progression of the disease.

Top tips for eye health

Your age and a family history of age-related macular degeneration are the biggest risk factors for AMD.

Everyone living with diabetes is at risk of diabetic eye disease.

There are actions you can take to reduce your risk of vision loss:

  1. Have regular eye checks
  2. Don’t smoke
  3. Live a healthy lifestyle, control your weight, and exercise regularly
  4. If you have diabetes, careful control of your condition can delay the onset or even reverse the progression of diabetic eye disease
  5. Eat fish two to three times a week, dark green leafy vegetables, and fresh fruit daily, and a handful of nuts a week, and limit your consumption of fats and oils.
  6. Use adequate protection for your eyes from the sun.

The Macular Disease Foundation of Australia has developed an online Check My Macula quiz  which is a useful tool to raise awareness of AMD and diabetic eye disease.

Please note this quiz does not replace an eye exam or advice provided by your optometrist.