by: David Hutton
A new survey of Americans 40 and older reveals a concerning lack of knowledge about the leading cause of blindness and vision loss among older adults, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Despite the fact that 89% of those surveyed indicated they would be devastated to lose their vision, the new study by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) showed many were unaware of the importance of dilated eye exams, the warning signs of AMD and the treatment advances made possible by retina specialists that can save and preserve vision when AMD is caught early.
February is AMD Awareness Month, and retina specialists find themselves on the front lines in the fight against the disease, educating patients to learn more about AMD and share key facts with friends and family to help save sight.
Approximately 11 million people in the United States have some form of AMD, a number that is expected to double by 2050, according to the ASRS news release. There are two major types of AMD, wet and dry. Most patients have early or intermediate dry AMD which can remain stable for a lifetime or can slowly degrade vision. Around ten percent of patients with intermediate AMD will develop wet AMD, an advanced form of AMD in which abnormal, leaking blood vessels develop beneath the macula and can cause rapid and severe vision loss in one or both eyes…….
Read more: https://www.modernretina.com/view/icymi-study-finds-americans-over-the-age-of-40-lack-sight-saving-knowledge-of-amd
Source: Modern Retina