Social Impact

The following publications by the Centre for Eye Research Australia provide detailed information about the social and economic impact of macular degeneration on the Australian community:

Centrally Focussed - The Impact of Age-related Macular Degeneration 2006

Investing in Sight - Strategic Interventions to Prevent Vision Loss in Australia 2005

Clear Insight- The Economic Impact and Cost of Vision Loss in Australia 2004

Depression Among People with Macular Degeneration

In 2013, MDFA, in conjunction with Bayer, conducted a survey of 1,000 people with macular degeneration and 1,000 carers. Results were used to produce a study entitled The Ripple Effect of Vision Loss

Research conducted by MDFA is presented in Predictors of Psychological Distress in Caregivers of Older Persons with Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration

Caregiver Perceptions About the Impact of Caring for Patients with Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration also presents research conducted by MDFA.

Research undertaken with input from MDFA is presented in The Emotional and Physical Impact of Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration: Findings from the Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration Patient and Caregiver Survey

Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial in Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Divergence in the Lived Experience of People with Macular Degeneration.

Impact of Severity and Bilaterality of Visual Impairment on Health-related Quality of Life.

Australian research, led by psychologist Dr Jo Lane from the Australian National University with input from MDFA, has shown that losing the ability to recognise faces due to vision loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) contributes to poorer social interactions, and reduced confidence and quality of life. There are a range of resources connected with the study, Impacts of impaired face perception on social interactions and quality of life in age-related macular degeneration: A qualitative study and new community resources.