Stemming the tide of vision loss in the elderly

Every five seconds, one person in the world goes blind. It is estimated that over seven million people become blid each year.

According to WHO estimates, 314 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness.

Ageing populations and lifestyle changes mean that chronic blinding conditions are projected to rise exponentially. Without effective, major intervention the number of blind people worldwide is expected to increase to 76 million by 2020.

Blindness is irreversible up to 80 percent of cases of blindness are avoidable either resulting from preventable conditions or being treatable in the early stages so that sight is restored. Prevention and treatment of vision loss are among the most cost-ffective and suvvessfull of health interventions.

In celebration of World Sight day, the Malaysia Sociey of Ophthalmology and Caring Pharmacy together with Novatis will be holding a public forum on Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) one of the leading causes of vision loss in the eldery.

In Asia, prevalence of AMD is increasing although awareness of the disease is extremely low.One of the first signs of AMD is the distortion of straight lines which may advance to a gradual loss of central vision over time.

In certain situations a person can lose his or her sight in as little as a few days.

Early of AMD through regular eye examinations is important to minimize the risk of developing an advanced stage of the disease and susequent vision loss amng older folk.

There is no cure for AMD but with proper management and treatment a patients sight can be improved an maintained for better quality of life.

Join our health experts as they share the latest information and insights on AMD. There will be booth activities, free blood glucose and eye health screenings and gifts galore for the public and the media.

Date: Saturday 2 October 2010
Time: 9 am to 11 am
Venue: Laksamana Ballroom (3rd Floor)
Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya

For further enquiries please contact
Joanna Ooi/03-78433119/012-2087038 email [email protected]
Lennie Ong/03-78433130/ 012-9703379 email [email protected]