AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) Awareness Week launches on September 21st with a campaign to encourage you to “Eat for Your Eye Health”. To launch AMD Awareness week 2009, Celebrity chef, Derry Clarke, has worked with AMD partners to create a simple recipe booklet which includes tips on Eating for your Eye Health and information on foods that include important eye nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. Free ‘Eat for Your Eye Health’ booklets will be available at AMD screenings, taking place during AMD Awareness Week throughout the country. It is also available to download at www.amd.ie

Derry Clarke commented on the booklet launch, “I was delighted to be invited to take part in AMD Awareness Week 2009. I have worked with the partners involved in AMD Awareness Week to design this booklet to give you practical advice that can help you protect yourself against a condition which now affects 1 in 10 Irish people over 50”, he continued, “I love recipes with a purpose, I may not be a medical expert, but I do know food, and it has been proven that simple changes to lifestyle and diet can help improve your eye health in your daily life”.

AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of registered blindness in Ireland; according to the AMD alliance it affects one in ten people over 50(1). AMD is not as well known as other eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma but it is the leading cause of legal blindness for people over the age of 50 in the Western World (2). Novartis, supported by the NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland), Fighting Blindness, the Association of Optometrists in Ireland (AOI) and the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) are working together to increase public awareness on how to spot the symptoms of AMD and to highlight that early diagnosis is key.

AMD affects the macula, the central part of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for the ‘straight-ahead’ vision necessary for everyday activities, like reading, driving, telling the time or identifying faces.(2) AMD can take away a person’s independence and confidence, and can lead to depression.(3)

There are two types of AMD, dry and wet.(2) Although wet AMD is the less common form of the disease it is very aggressive and accounts for 90% of blindness caused by this condition.(2)) Wet AMD is associated with the growth of new blood vessels in the macula (angiogenesis). These vessels are fragile and leak fluid and blood, leading to the development of scar tissue that destroys the macula.(2)

Lynda McGivney-Nolan, Optometric Advisor with the AOI, commented “Figures from the Irish Blind register in 2008 indicates that 34% of all new registrations occurred as a result of age related macular degeneration”.

Mr. Mark Cahill, Consultant in Ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and Beacon Clinic, Sandyford, added, “Thankfully there are now treatment options available for AMD. These have dramatically improved over the past few years but it is important that AMD is diagnosed early. However, we know that only a quarter of those diagnosed with AMD in Ireland every year are reaching centres where they can be treated on time.” He continued, “The consequence of this is that many Irish people are losing vision unnecessarily. Fortunately, significant work is being undertaken in Ireland to educate the public on the importance of regular eye examinations and the treatment options available to them.”

The most obvious symptoms of AMD are distortion and blurring in the centre of vision. Vision loss can have a huge emotional and practical impact on a person and affect their ability to live independently. The earlier a person identifies that they have a problem with their sight, the sooner they can make the adjustments which will help them maintain a full and independent life.
Your local optician/optometrist is qualified to carry out the test to detect the early signs of AMD. These tests are normally done as part of your routine eye examination and are simple, quick, non invasive and give an immediate result. “The results are immediate and your optician will be able to tell you what you need to do there and then”, said Lynda McGivney-Nolan, Optometric Advisor with the AOI. “Remember prevention is better than cure so regular eye examinations with your optometrist/optician is the best way to keep your eyes healthy”, added McGivney-Nolan.

During AMD week Novartis and eye care specialists are offering free AMD testing and advice at selected hospitals and public venues throughout the country. Log on to www.amd.ie for a listing of free AMD testing venues. Acting early could reduce further damage to your eye sight. If you think you could be experiencing the early symptoms of AMD, visit www.amd.ie for more details

Ends

Editors notes

Lynda McGivney-Nolan, Optometric Advisor with the AOI, a Consultant Ophthalmologist with the ICO; Des Kenny, NCBI’s Chief Executive or Peter Quinn, Fighting Blindness Chief Executive are available for interview upon request.

AMD testing will take place during the week commencing 21st September in the below shopping centres:

• Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Galway, 25th September
• The Harbour Place Shopping Centre, Mullingar, 22nd September
• St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Dublin, 21st September
• Douglas Court Shopping Centre, Cork, Thursday, 24th September
• Blackrock Shopping Centre, Dublin, Friday, 25th September

Find out more about AMD Awareness Week 2009

For further information contact:
Anne Browning, Edelman
Anne.browning@edelman.com
01 638 9333/087 936 6102

Lucy Noble, Edelman
lucy.noble@edelman.com
01 678 9333/ 086 8442 996

References:

1 www.amdalliance.org
2 Bressler NM. Early detection and treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. JABF 2002; 15: 2.
3 Brody L, Gamst AC, Williams RA et al. Depression, visual acuity, comorbidity, and disability associated with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology 2001;108:1893-1901.