14.02.12
Predicted increase in eyesight condition
Research suggests that the number of people in the UK suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause blindness, is expected to rise by a third by 2020.
AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in the western world and is the reason behind more than half of registrations for blind and partially sighted people in theUK. It is largely linked to growing older although eating a healthy diet could help prevent it.
The condition can be either “dry” or “wet” and affects the macula at the back of the eye, impairing central sight. Symptoms include distorted vision, blurry or blank patches in central vision, and difficulty in performing everyday tasks such as reading, recognising people’s faces, driving and watching television.
Research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology calculated the prevalence rated of AMD for people aged 50 and over. Around 2.4% of the population (513,000 people) were found to have AMD between 2007 and 2009. It is thought that by 2020, this figure will have increased to 679,000 people across theUK– a rise of a third.
The research was undertaken by experts from theUniversityofLondon, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Iara Eaglen, from the RNIB, said: “While there is no treatment for dry AMD, with swift diagnosis and treatment, people no longer need to lose their sight to wet AMD.
“However, if we don’t invest in early detection and treatment, we will create a greater need for long-term support for people who do lose their sight.
“This research is a further warning that the right steps must be taken now to avoid unnecessary sight loss and help those who have already lost their sight get the support they need to live full, independent lives.”