Guests:
Joe Korner of RNIB

Peter White talking to Joe Korner of RNIB about the retina week and the RNIB's survey about how little GPs know about losing sight.

GPs are seeking more information about Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the biggest single cause of sight loss in the UK. Currently there are high levels of ignorance, according to new research from the AMD Alliance UK, published during Retina Week. GPs do not feel confident about their knowledge of AMD and 57% rate their knowledge as worse than that of other common eye conditions.

Whilst 85% of GPs had seen patients with AMD in the last 18 months, only 12% said their knowledge of AMD was good or very good. Over half said that their knowledge of AMD was a little or much worse than for other eye conditions.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative retinal eye disease that causes progressive loss of central vision. One of the early signs of AMD is the distortion of straight lines which affects people's ability to perform everyday activities such as reading, watching television, driving and recognising familiar faces. An estimated 500,000 people in the UK have AMD and for the vast majority there is no treatment available.

Getting the right low vision assessment, rehabilitation and mobility training can make all the difference in helping people to retain their independence. However, only 5 percent of GPs feel they have had sufficient training or updates on AMD in the last 18 months.

Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working. It is not known why this is, although it tends to happen as people get older. This is called age-related macular degeneration.

Because macular degeneration is an age-related process it usually involves both eyes, although they may not be affected at the same time. With many people the visual cells simply cease to function, like the colours fading in an old photograph - this is known as 'dry' degeneration. Sometimes there is scarring of the macula caused by leaking blood vessels and this is called wet degeneration.

Children and young people can also suffer from an inherited form of macular degeneration called macular dystrophy. Sometimes several members of a family will suffer from this, and if this is the case in your family it is very important that you have your eyes checked regularly.

Macular degeneration is not painful, and never leads to total blindness. It is the most common cause of poor sight in people over 60 but never leads to complete sight loss because it is only the central vision that is affected. Macular degeneration never affects vision at the outer edges of the eye. This means that almost everyone with macular degeneration will have enough side vision to get around and keep their independence.

In the early stages your central vision may be blurred or distorted, with things looking an unusual size or shape. This may happen quickly or develop over several months. You may be very sensitive to light or actually see lights that are not there. This may cause some discomfort occasionally, but otherwise macular degeneration is not painful.

The macula enables you to see fine detail and people with the advanced condition will often notice a blank patch or dark spot in the centre of their sight. This makes activities like reading, writing and recognising small objects or faces very difficult. If you suspect that you may have macular degeneration but there are no acute symptoms you should see your doctor or optometrist (optician) who will refer you to an eye specialist.