Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Blindness... The word alone evokes fear. Few people are aware that macular degeneration, an incurable eye disease, which leads to central vision loss, is the main cause of blindness for those 50 years old and older in the North America.

Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.

Canada is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in age-related blindness. Driven by the country’s aging population, incidences of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are soaring as baby boomers reach the age of 50 and 60 years old. Cases are expected to triple within 25 years.

AMD, the leading cause of vision loss in Canada, affects four times the number of Canadians than those with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease combined, yet disturbingly, the majority of Canadians know little about it.

A landmark symposium, The Cost of Blindness: What it means to Canadians, held earlier this year in Toronto identified the following conclusions:

• There is a very poor public awareness about age-related eye diseases and risk factors
• Limited public awareness about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss for people over the age of 50
• Lack of Canadian research on the incidence and prevalence of blindness and visual impairment
• An aging and declining profession of ophthalmologists to treat eye disease
• Discriminatory access to AMD treatment
• Insufficient public access to vision rehabilitation services and assistive devices programs

As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known and research into this little-understood disease is limited by insufficient funding.

Our District Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro. Andrew Turk, has selected AMD for this year’s District Charity Project to support research on the epidemiology of AMD and to support eye vision services for the management and care of AMD-inflicted individuals.  I have been tasked to take the  helm in ensuring that the charity target will be met and , if possible, surpassed.

On Feb 16, 2010, we have arranged to have a guest speaker from CNIB to do a presentation regarding AMD.  It will be Weston Temple, 2040 Weston Rd, Toronto, Ontario. As the saying goes: knowledge is power. It is only through awareness and knowledge of the seriousness of this disease will it gain the support it requires.

With various fund raising activities, aided by the unwavering and generous support from the brethren and the lodges, we are confident that we will meet our target for this year.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Eugene Palacol
Chairman – District Project
Trillium Lodge No. 575

 - visit these links for more info on Age-related Macular Degeneration:

http://www.cnib.ca/en/your-eyes/eye-conditions/amd/Default.aspx

http://www.amdalliance.org/