see our vision
MACULAR DEGENERATION
NEW
ZEALAND
Sir Wilson Whineray
Key Facts on Macular Degeneration
- MD is the leading cause of blindness in the over 50 age group in NZ
- MD affects 1 in 7 people over 50 years
- The prevalence of visual impairment from MD will almost double in the next 20 years
- Approximately 25,000 New Zealanders are affected with wet MD with up to 800 new cases per year
- Untreated, the majority of people with wet MD become functionally (legally) blind within 2 years
- The cost of legal blindness due to increased falls and admission to residential care is $21,000 per year.
- Visual impairment decreases the quality and length of life
- There is over 40% higher incidence of depression in MD patients than elderly people without MD.
- 50% of people who have MD in one eye will develop MD in their second eye within 5 years
- Current smokers have 3 times the risk of developing MD and will develop it 10 years earlier
- Only 41% of New Zealanders know that MD can cause vision loss
These facts sheets provided courtesy of MD Foundation of Australia.
Click on the links below.
Ask your eye care professional about low vision services and resources that may help you.
To download a booklet in pdf format about nutrition click here (300K)
To download a booklet about macular degeneration click here (400K)