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Reaching out to help all those with a macular disease

In January 2013 the Macular Degeneration Foundation changed its name to the Macular Disease Foundation Australia. Macular degeneration remains the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia and will continue to be a key focus for the Foundation.


The Foundation will provide information, guidance and support for the many macular diseases, primarily macular degeneration but also diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and macular dystrophies.


This change reflects the need for support and services to be available across all macular diseases.


AREDS2 results

The initial results of the AREDS2 study were released on 5 May 2013 at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference in Seattle by Dr Emily Chew, Deputy Director of the prestigious National Eye Institute (NEI) in the United States.

For more information, please click here.

Eye health at the centre of international white paper
Macular Disease Foundation Australia welcomes findings

The Macular Disease Foundation Australia welcomes the release of a white paper, “Advocating for Improved Treatment and Outcomes for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration”. The Angiogenesis Foundation’s white paper is the result of a convening of international experts in Sydney last July to develop a road map for the management of ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Australia.

For more information, please click here.

Foundation’s Autumn 2013 Newsletter is now available

The Foundation’s Autumn 2013 newsletter is a bumper edition and includes information on the Foundation’s Sight for Seniors campaign and steps you through how you can be involved. Also included are the results of new research into the ripple effect of vision loss, there is a Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2013 update, Research Grants Program update and ideas on how to fundraise for the Foundation, plus much, much more.

For more information, please click here.

Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2013, Sun 26 May to Sat 1 June

In her role as Patron of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia Ita Buttrose is leading the fight against macular degeneration.

For more information, please click here.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia and the international summit on ageing and vision

The Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) and International Federation on Ageing (IFA) co-hosted the inaugural Global Ageing & Vision Advocacy Summit, with leading international advocates from 12 countries in Barcelona, Spain, on 17–18 April 2013.

For more information, please click here.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grants Program

Applications now open for research commencing in 2014.
Grant(s) up to $500,000 ($167,000 per year for three years).

For more information, please click here.

New research uncovers the ripple effect of vision loss on carers

New research by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia reveals that the unexpected burden of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) weighs heavily not only on the person living with the disease, but equally on those who care for them. Overall, depression rates amongst those who care for someone with wet AMD were more than triple those seen in the general population over 65 years of age and those surveyed aged under 70 report even higher rates of depression, with one in nine suffering from the condition.

For more information, please click here.

National Disability Insurance Scheme continues to exclude over 65s, Australians say – It's just unfair!

The Macular Disease Foundation Australia is furious with the Federal Government's ambiguous amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) announced today.

Despite the recent extensive Senate Committee consultation process, the Government continues to ignore the majority view that people who acquire a disability after the age of 65 years should be included in the NDIS.

For more information, please click here.

The Foundation calls on Government to rethink NDIS

The Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) is calling on the Federal Government to rethink how older Australians will be cared for given the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) excludes people who acquire a disability at the age of 65 and over.

For more information, please click here.

The Foundation champions all macular diseases

The Foundation is proud to announce that it has officially changed its name from the Macular Degeneration Foundation to the Macular Disease Foundation Australia.

For more information, please click here.

mEYE World Photographic Competition 2012 - Now Closed!

We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the people who entered the mEYE World Photographic Competition this year - we had an overwhelming response! It is now up to our fantastic judges who have the difficult task of choosing our winners... Stay tuned.

For more information click here.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment – The Foundation’s Position

A number of Australia’s peak medical and patient advocacy groups are advising patients to be careful of alternate treatments that are advertised in newspapers or on the internet claiming dramatic success in the treatment of MD.

For more information click here


Macular Degeneration One Decade Gala Fundraising Dinner 2011

At the launch of Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2011, the Foundation celebrated one decade of service to the Macular Degeneration community with a gala fundraising dinner at the Sydney Hilton Hotel on Friday 20 May. It was a wonderful evening acknowledging so many supporters and expressing our heartfelt thanks for the enormous contribution of Dr Paul Beaumont, our founding director

For more information click here


Winter Newsletter Now Available!

View our special One Decade edition which highlights the launch of MD Awareness Week 2011, the launch of the Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Grants Program, our One Decade Gala Fundraising Dinner, the mEYE World Photographic Competition Winners and our new publication Low Vision Aids & Technology – A Guide.

To find out more click here


Now Available, Low Vision Aids and Technology – A Guide

Low Vision Aids and Technology – A Guide, the fourth in a series on guides produced by the Foundation, provides information on the different types of aids and technology available to assist those living with low vision.

To find out more click here



Eye Health Checklist

To find out more about how to reduce your risk
Click here
It is vital to have your eyes checked regularly, including your macula.
To test yourself using an Amsler Grid
Click here


Facts & Figures

Statistical information on prevalence, risk factors and the cost of MD in Australia.
Click here

 















Low Vision Aids &
Technology - A Guide

Answers key questions
and gives examples
of low vision aids
and technology.

Low Vision - A Guide
Coping strategies, low
vision tips for the
recently diagnosed
and a detailed service
directory of low vision
organisations

Family, Friend &
Carer - A Guide

provides information
for carers who
support people who
are blind or have low
vision

Slips, Trips & Falls -
A Guide

Practical advice to
avoid slips, trips and
falls





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