Every year we highlight May as macula disease awareness month.The macula is the central area of vision with the highest resolution. When you look at a word or face, you are using your macula!
This year, we are giving every patient a complementary Amsler grid to share with friends and family over the age of 25 years.
Macula disease is not exclusively a disease of older Australians, I have picked up inflammation of the choroid in a number of younger patients, that involves the macula.
Younger patients it is thought can develop macula disease due to elevated cortisol levels in the bloodstream and it has been postulated this is in response to stress related factors.
Of particular interest are young men with increased work related demands.
If detected early, there are a number of treatments that can help save vision lost to macula disease. These treatments are usually injections and we co-manage patients with retina sub-specialists who administer these treatments.
So the key message is to have your eyes examined annually, discuss macula disease with your friends and family, and let’s make this May the month we examine our eyes. You can make an appointment here.
See you in the clinic soon!
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