(www.PreserveMacForte.com) Ita Buttrose, named Australian of the Year, is commemorating Macular Degeneration Week by requesting that elderly Australians see their eye doctor for an eye exam, according to TopNews recently.
The article noted that Buttrose also wants the Government of Australia to provide proper support for citizens older than 65 years old who are living with vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
According to the article, the National Disability Insurance Scheme at present offers no support to people older than 65 who have AMD. Buttrose, the Macular Disease Foundation’s patron, said when she was awarded the title of Australian of the Year that she would use her influence to raise awareness about conditions that impact older people in Australia.
According to the article, she noted that better ways to provide enhanced care for older people are needed. Moreover, she said that the government and the community need to make better care for older Australians a top commitment during Macular Degeneration Week. Older people in Australia must make their health a priority, she said, adding that the government also must do its part by looking after the needs of older citizens so that they are afforded the “dignity they deserve.”
According to the article, Buttrose said that a lot of older Australians do not actually understand how eye-friendly eating habits and a healthy lifestyle can slow down the progression of AMD. The eye ailment is responsible more than half of the cases of blindness in Australia, according to the article.
Various reports have noted that there are two types of AMD, namely dry AMD and wet AMD. Of the two, wet AMD is the more serious. Only 10% of people with dry AMD go on to get wet AMD, the more serious of the two. Wet AMD is caused when abnormal blood vessels leak blood and other fluid that damages the eye. In addition to seeing an eye doctor annually, people can help to reduce their odds of getting AMD by eating lots of leafy green produce and fish with omega-3 fatty acids. Maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels is also important.