Healthy Vision Month
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over 50, affecting over 15 million Americans in the U.S. This devastating disease affects the central vision and impairs the ability to see normally and perform many necessary tasks such as reading and driving.
This May, in observance of Healthy Vision Month, we ask your help in raising awareness and encourage you to learn more about AMD and how you can protect your vision.
Here’s what you can do:
Join our Believing is Seeing 20/20 Campaign. Make a $20 donation in May and your gift will be matched by an anonymous MVRF Champion Donor. Remember, 100% of your contribution goes directly to research to find a cure. Click here to join our campaign.
Get a dilated eye exam. Getting a dilated eye exam is the only way to catch eye diseases early, because with many, there are no warning signs. Talk to your eye care professional about how often you should have one.
Test your vision with the Amsler Grid. The Amsler Grid is a simple way to test your vision quality and can detect degenerative changes in the macula. This test only takes a moment and the results can give you a warning of changes in your retina that may require immediate attention by an ophthalmologist. Click here to take the test.
Live a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions, and not smoking can lower your risk of eye disease. Click here to learn about vision-friendly nutrients.
Know your family history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. AMD is genetic so it’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed in your family.
Use protective eyewear. Protect your eyes when doing chores around the house, playing sports, or on the job to prevent eye injuries from happening. This includes wearing safety glasses, safety shields, and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation, so you can keep your vision sharp and eyes healthy.
Learn tips for living with low vision. If you or someone you know has AMD, these resources include tips for living with low vision. MVRF also provides a FREE newsletter which contains the latest information on research & advancements to find a cure, tips for living with low vision and updates on the latest low vision technology. Click here to join our mailing list.
Participate in a clinical trial. Some medical questions can’t be answered without you. Clinical research studies use volunteers to discover new treatments to improve patient care and are the best way to learn what is effective for treating diseases. Please call us at 1-866-4MACULA or click here to contact us if you are interesting in participating in a clinical trial.
Spread the knowledge. Share this important information with everyone you know!