Lining up for degeneration
May 26, 2010
LAST weekend a function was
held at Kirribilli in Sydney to
officially launch Macular
Degeneration Awareness Week.
A study was also released to
coincide with the event, which
shows there’s an “alarming risk”
that people experiencing a
symptom of macular degeneration
(MD) will dismiss the symptom
thinking they just need glasses or
are experiencing eye strain.
MD is a leading cause of
blindness in Australia, and the
awareness week was launched by
Queensland State Minister for
Disability Services and Multicultural
Affairs, Annastacia Palaszczuk, who
was diagnosed with MD six years
ago - aged just 34.
“Early detection and immediate
treatment was critical to saving my
sight,” she said, urging people to
go visit an optometrist if they
experience any change in vision.
MD is hereditary, with a 50%
chance of developing the condition
if a family history is present.
Pictured above from left at the
launch are Pam Stone and Amy
Down from Blackmores; MD
Foundation ceo Julie Heraghty;
opthalmologist and founding
director MD Foundation, Dr Paul
Beaumont; Annastacia Palaszczuk,
Qld minister for disability services;
and Vivan Zurlo and Vanessa
Besermenji of Blackmores.
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