Macular Degeneration New Zealand aims :
- To enhance the quality of life of people with macular degeneration and support the associated macular degeneration community.
- To promote education about and awareness of macular degeneration in the wider community of New Zealand.
- To support and pursue research into the causes, prevention and treatment of and possible cures for macular degeneration.
- To advocate for access to evidence based treatments and advance the best interests of the entire macular degeneration community.
Key Facts on Macular Degeneration
- MD is the leading cause of blindness in the over 50 age group in NZ
- MD affects 1 in 7 people over 50 years
- Approximately 25,000 New Zealanders are affected with wet MD with up to 800 new cases per year
- Untreated, the majority of people with wet MD become functionally (legally) blind within 2 years
- Current smokers have 3 times the risk of developing MD and will develop it 10 years earlier