AMD Alliance International is a non-profit coalition of the world's leading vision, seniors and research organizations working to raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration, understanding of available options for prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and support services. It is the only international organization in the world that concentrates exclusively on age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in the developed world.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration AMD is an eye condition that causes loss of central vision, leaving only peripheral, or side, vision intact. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment for people over 50 in the Western world.
Types & Detection Macular degeneration is often related to aging, thus the name age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD). The two most common forms of AMD are dry and wet.
Dry AMD This more common form, causes varying degrees of sight loss and is identified by the collection of yellow, fatty deposits called drusen in the macula the central part of the retina responsible for clear central vision.
Wet AMD Occurs less often (10-15 percent of cases), but the chance for severe sight loss is much greater. It is characterized by development of abnormal, leaky blood vessels in the macula. Scar tissue may form causing irreversible blind spots and in many cases leads to legal blindness.
AMD Alliance International Member Organizations Argentina
Fundación Oftalmológica Hugo Nano Australia
Macular Degeneration Foundation Australia Retina Australia Vision Australia Foundation Austria
EURAG: European Federation of Older Persons Belgium
Belgian Organization for the Prevention of Blindness Brazil
Retina Brasil Canada
CNIB Canadian Association of Optometrists Canadian Ophthalmological Society The Foundation Fighting Blindness-Canada International Federation on Ageing National Coalition on Vision Health Finland
Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired France
Association Retina France Germany
Pro Retina Deutschland e.V. Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands DOG Hong Kong
Hong Kong Society for the Blind Retina Hong Kong India
LV Prasad Eye Institute National Society for the Prevention of Blindness - India Ireland
Fighting Blindness Ireland Israel
ESHEL: The Association for the Planning and International Federation on Ageing NAMAG – Association of AMD Patients in Israel Italy
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness - Italian Branch Retina Italia Onlus Societá Italiana Retina Netherlands
Macula Degeneratie Vereniging New Zealand
Retina New Zealand The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Poland
Polish Association of the Blind South Africa
Retina South Africa Spain
Organización Nacional De Ciegos Españoles (ONCE) Spanish Vitreous and Retina Society Switzerland
Retina International Retina Suisse Tunisia
Nadi al Bassar, African Centre for Sight and Visual Sciences United Kingdom
Royal National Institute of Blind People Age Concern England Fight for Sight Macular Disease Society Wales Council for the Blind Dr. Bob Thompson, Honorary Life Chair United States
Alliance for Aging Research American Optometric Association American Optometric Association-Low Vision Section American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. International Association for Audio Information Services Lighthouse International The Association for Macular Diseases Lions Clubs International Macular Degeneration Partnership Macular Degeneration Support (MD Support) Prevent Blindness America Hadley School for the Blind The Seniors Coalition Eye Care America
References https://www.medlineplus.gov/maculardegeneration.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070420173233/http://www.lighthouse.org/aboutus/press/press-releases/pr-smoking/ https://web.archive.org/web/20080606095302/http://www.cnib.ca/en/news/archive/amd-news-092006.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20080916102223/http://www.nei.nih.gov/strategicplanning/np_part.asp Living Well With Macular Degeneration: Dr. Bruce Rosental and Kate Kelly. ISBN 0-451-20264-3 Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Daniel L. Robert. ISBN 1-56924-286-0