People over the age of 50 are being warned to watch out for symptoms of AMD - Ireland's leading cause of registered blindness.

The call was made to coincide with AMD awareness week, which runs until September 29.

AMD (age-related macular degeneration) affects central vision, making it blurry. Central vision is necessary for everyday activities such as reading, driving and watching television. The condition affects one in 10 people over the age of 50.

However, the majority of cases of blindness associated with AMD can be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.

"As the leading cause of blindness among people over the age of 50, it is likely that AMD will continue to affect vision loss in this older age group. However it is reassuring to note that 75% of blindness is preventable through early diagnosis and treatment.

"In the case of AMD, prevention is aided by maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and blood pressure control, quitting smoking and by having regular eye tests," explained Patricia Quinlan, an eye doctor and member of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO).

A framework report recently launched by the National Coalition for Vision Health in Ireland revealed that 224,000 people in Ireland are affected by severe vision loss. However, this figure is expected to jump by 21% - to 272,000 - by 2020 as a result of this country's ageing population and changing lifestyle factors.

According to Lynda McGivney-Nolan, an optometric advisor with the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), it is important that people over the age of 50 undergo regular eye tests.

"In fact it is advised that you should undergo a test at least every two years. We encourage this age bracket to stay vigilant for the early signs of AMD," she commented.

Early signs include a sudden onset of vision distortion and blurring in the centre of a person's vision. The test for AMD is simple, quick and non-invasive - it can take place as part of a routine eye exam at any optician.

"Because eyesight can start to deteriorate gradually in old age, too many older people put up with it, seeing the deterioration as just part of the ageing process. In so many instances that is not the case," warned Des Kenny of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).

He added that to lose your sight unnecessarily because of failing to visit an optician ‘is one of the saddest mistakes a person can make'.

"This is all the worse when eyesight can be saved through prompt diagnosis and treatment," he added.

AMD Awareness Week is supported by the NCBI, the ICO, the AOI and the charity, Fighting Blindness. As part of the event, free AMD testing will be available at a number of venues nationwide. For more information, click here

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