On the initiative of Retina AMD Poland and the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education, the 'Keep Your Sight' campaign was also launched in March 2023. The idea behind the campaign is to educate people about retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular oedema (DME), which can lead to vision loss.
Campaign page www.zachowajwzrok.pl enables you to learn about retinal diseases and the world as seen through the eyes of the patients, the site includes a map of ophthalmology centres in Poland specialising in the treatment of AMD and DME, as well as advice for patients and their carers.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the developed world is the number one cause of sight loss in people over the age of 60. The Retina AMD Association Poland report 'nAMD - the patient pathway from diagnosis to treatment' illuminates the picture of the disease. The publication is based on a survey of patients and doctors, in cooperation with rehabilitation specialists, medical experts and association volunteers.
What is AMD?
AMD can take the dry or exudative (neovascular) form, with the dry form affecting 80–90% all patients with macular degenerative changes. Although there are significantly fewer patients with the exudative form (10–15%), it is in their case that the disease has a far more severe and violent course.
There are nearly 190 million AMD patients worldwide. In Poland, according to the Retina AMD Association Poland, there may be as many as 140 000 people with the exudative form of this progressive, multidimensional disabling disease. It is estimated that there will be up to 14 000 new patients each year.
Risk factors include age (over 50), race (white), gender (female), family history of AMD and unhealthy lifestyles of smoking, physical inactivity or hypertension.
Macular degeneration affects the central part of the retina. As patients say, AMD is not a disease that blindingly – because a small – but still – Peripheral vision. It is primarily associated with a reduction in visual acuity. This is compounded by distortion and blurring of the image. Patients have difficulty driving, reading and even recognising faces. Blurred, fuzzy and distorted – This is what everyday life is like for patients with AMD.