May is Macula month, a campaign centred around the education and awareness of macular disease.
The macula is responsible for detailed central vision, meaning we use it for activities such as reading, driving and recognising faces. It’s also responsible for most of your colour vision, so its quite shocking to learn that an estimated 1.7 million Australians have some evidence of macular disease.
Macular disease covers a range of painless conditions affecting the central retina which can be found at the back of the eye.
Conditions only affecting the macula don’t lead to total blindness, instead, they impact central vision, leaving peripheral vision intact.
SYMPTOMS OF MACULAR DISEASE
You can have early signs of macular disease without knowing it. However, when symptoms do appear, they can include:
- Difficulty with reading or any other activity which requires detailed central vision (despite wearing appropriate glasses)
- Distortion, where straight lines may appear wavy or bent
- Problems distinguishing faces
- Dark patches in the central vision
- Macular disease can affect anyone, at any age, so knowing your risks, and having regular macula checks, is the only way to protect your vision.
But how do you know if you are at risk ?
Take the ‘Check My Macula’ quiz and in one minute, you’ll have a better idea of your risk factors.
Take Quiz
So, if you’ve just taken the quiz and have any vision concerns that you think might need attention, please contact us to make an appointment or visit us online.