Age-related macular degeneration: 2006 report updateProjections of visual impairment and blindness; recommendations for prevention and treatment |
Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment in people over the age of 50 years in developed countries. In Australia it is the most common cause of blindness contributing to 50% of all blindness. The prevalence of AMD increases sharply with age, particularly from the age of 65 years. With the demographic ageing of Australia’s population the prevalence of AMD will increase.
In 2010, there were an estimated 1.023 million Australians with AMD, equivalent to one in seven people over the age of 50. By 2030 it is estimated that, as a result of demographic ageing, the numbers of Australians with AMD will increase by over 70% to 1.77 million, in the absence of effective prevention and treatment efforts.
This report for the Macular Degeneration Foundation updates findings from Access Economics’ previous report for the Centre for Eye Research in 2005-06, titled Centrally Focused: The Impact of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: a dynamic economic model and report.
Contents include:
Section 1: Background
Section 2: Definition and classification
Section 3: Epidemiology, risk factors and natural history: prevalence, progression and associated mortality
Section 4: Risk and protective factors
Section 5: Economic costs: health system expenditure, other, loss of wellbeing
Section 6: Treatment: atrophic, neovascular
Section 7: Removing barriers to treatment
Section 8 : Low-vision rehabilitation
Age-related macular degeneration: 2006 report update
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