Thousands of people over the age of 50 are risking their sight by failing to have their eyes checked on a regular basis, experts have warned.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50. It affects central vision, making it blurry. Central vision is necessary for everyday activities such as reading, driving, recognising faces and watching television.

Almost 100,000 people in Ireland are affected and around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

However a new survey has found that 71% of people over the age of 50 currently get their eyes tested less than once a year.

"Regular eye examinations with an eye doctor are recommended in order to catch signs of the disease early, especially if there is a family history of the condition. This should be done every two years for the over 50s and annually if there is any hint of AMD," explained eye surgeon and spokesperson for the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, Dr Mark Cahill.

He pointed out that the outcome of this disease ‘has greatly improved with modern treatment'.

"Treatments can stabilise the disease in 90% of cases and greatly improve vision in 30-40% of people with AMD. The early detection of wet AMD by an eye doctor and prompt treatment is crucial to prevent sight loss," he noted.

He also reminded people of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables, exercising regularly and not smoking can all slow the progression of the onset of AMD.

Dr Cahill made his comments at the launch of AMD Awareness Week, which runs from September 14-20. As part of the event, a special booklet has been designed entitled, Your Defining Moment. It contains contributions from well-known Irish people who explain what their defining moments have been. The booklet has been launched to encourage people at risk of AMD to have their eyes checked and make this their defining moment of the year.

"Being diagnosed with AMD is a defining moment in anyone's life, but it is important for people to know that there is support and treatment available and early diagnosis is vital. Research has shown that 70-80% of blindness in Ireland is preventable so please don't put off that appointment - book your eye test today," commented Avril Daly, CEO of Fighting Blindness.

AMD Awareness Week is supported by Fighting Blindness, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, the national sight loss organisation - the NCBI, and Novartis.

As part of this event, people over the age of 50 are being offered free AMD testing at participating eye care providers and at the Novartis AMD mobile testing unit, which will visit Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway this week.

The full list of locations where free testing is available can be viewed here

For more information on AMD, click here

For more information on general eye health, see our Eye Clinic here