Age-Related macular degeneration can lead to depression and suicide…Early detection is key factor in maintaining patient quality of life

BALTIMORE, MD, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A White Paper(1) issued today by AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) reports that the impact of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on patients' Quality of Life and psychological well-being is comparable to that of cancer or coronary heart disease. The White Paper also shows the diagnosis of AMD and the threat of blindness increases depression and the risk of suicide.

America's leading vision, seniors and research organizations have joined forces, under the umbrella of AMD Alliance International, to call on health policy makers, healthcare professionals and the AMD community to take immediate action to combat the risks of depression, suicide and social isolation linked to age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in the USA. According to AMD Alliance International, the dire consequences of AMD can be prevented by early detection, measures taken during diagnosis, and providing access to low vision rehabilitation and support services. More than 15 million American seniors live with some form of AMD, and this number is expected to reach potentially epidemic proportions as the population ages.

"AMD is no longer just about vision loss. It's also about mental health and quality of life, which is why identifying and catching AMD at its earliest stages is critical. People, especially those over 50, must have regular eye examinations," said Don Curran, Chairman, AMD Alliance International and AMD patient. "Further, health policy makers need to acknowledge that quality of life is an important patient outcome and recognize the urgent need to provide timely access to physicians, treatments, and support services to limit the damage caused by AMD. The pieces for optimal AMD care exist, but the puzzle must be put together. A good life with AMD is very possible, with the right supports at the right time." According to Dr. Tara Cortes, RN, PhD President and CEO, Lighthouse International, "Early detection and treatment are essential, especially for those with wet macular degeneration. In addition, in many cases, low vision rehabilitation and counseling is the right support. We must accelerate our efforts to make low vision rehabilitation available to all those who need it."

The White Paper, issued to kick off the 2006 AMD Awareness Week, September 18 to 24, 2006, also marks the start of a global outreach campaign to raise awareness of the little-known psychological effects of AMD. The campaign aims to demonstrate that basic supports to improve AMD patients' quality of life - early access to medical expertise, early diagnosis and treatment, and referral to appropriate low vision programs, including counseling - are vital. As AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the Western World in people 50 and older, and with cases rising as the baby boomer generation ages, more people are at risk of suffering from more than just vision loss.

People with vision loss are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression versus the general population. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850,000 lives worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).