Macular Degeneration Awareness Week

An eye test could save your sight – Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (21st – 27th May)

Only an eye test can detect the early signs of macular degeneration, Australia’s leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss. With one in seven Australians over 50 now having some evidence of the disease make sure that you see Shannon at Outlook Eye Centre for your macula check.

It is important for everyone to have an eye test and their macula checked this Macular Degeneration Awareness week. Macular Degeneration can result in progressive and painless loss of your central vision. The macula is the part of your retina which allows you to read, drive, recognise faces, see colours and perform all activities of your daily life. Regular eye exams are important as the earlier Macular Degeneration is detected, the better the visual outcome.

In addition to having an eye test and macula check, there are a number of preventative measures that we can all do.  These include eating a well balanced diet rich in fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts and fish, exercising regularly, not smoking and wearing a good quality pair of sunglasses.  

If you have a direct family history of Macular Degeneration you need to be extra vigilant as you have a 50% chance of developing the disease.

The symptoms of Macular Degeneration may include one or more of the following:

• Difficulty reading or any other activity with fine vision
• Distortion where straight lines appear wavy or bent
• Distinguishing faces becomes a problem patches or empty spaces appear in the centre of your vision

To learn more about your own macula health,call us at Outlook Eye Centre to book in your macula test. You can contact us on 46358844. You can keep up to date by following us on Facebook or Instagram or have a look at our website www.outlookeyecentre.com.au for more detailed information.

Note:

Free information on macular degeneration is available from Macular Disease Foundation Australia on 1800 111 709 or visit www.mdfoundation.com.au.