Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2010 runs from Monday 24 – Sunday 30 May and this year’s theme is “How’s your macula?”

Macular Degeneration (MD) is the leading cause of blindness in Australia, affecting central vision. MD is primarily age related and most frequently affects people over the age of 50. One in seven people over the age of 50 are affected by the disease and the incidence increases with age. It is sometimes referred to as Age Related Macular Degeneration or ‘AMD’.

Although there is no cure for MD, there are treatment options that can slow down its progression, depending on the stage and type of the disease (wet, dry, and other forms). The earlier the disease is detect6ed, the more vision you are likely to retain.

The 2009 Awareness Week campaign involved a number of key events and reached millions of people across Australia. The MD Foundation sent direct mail kits to 3,200 Optometrists, 900 Ophthalmologists and 5,500 pharmacies and health food stores and over 430 Orthoptists. Kits were also sent to local libraries, community health centres, aged care facilities and hospitals throughout Australia.

So get involved and help spread awareness on this silent disease during Macular Degeneration Week 2010.