Macular Week 2017 set to raise awareness of this condition

Macular Week 2017 will take place from 26 June to 2 July in order to help raise awareness of the link between smoking and sight loss.

Run by the Macular Society, Macular Week is all about increasing awareness of macular disease, as well as highlighting the importance of research funding, which could eventually help to find a cure for macular disease.

Research has confirmed the harmful effects of smoking on eyesight, but a survey conducted by the charity found that many people are still unaware that smoking causes blindness.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the vision you use when you’re looking directly at something, for example when you’re reading, looking at photos or watching television. AMD may make this central vision distorted or blurry and, over a period of time, it may cause a blank patch in the centre of your vision.

At the moment, the exact cause for AMD is not known. But current thinking is that protecting your eyes from the sun, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and stopping smoking may all help to keep your eyes as healthy as possible.