AMD Make Gains against Vision Disorders

A team of like-minded fighters for people with severe visual disorders assembled on February 3, in Fort Worth, to rally its own to lead the attack against visual disorders worldwide. The "2012 North American Meeting of AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) Members and Friends" gained yards against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and other potentially blinding visual conditions. There's one step that would lessen eye disease: regular eye exams. Betty Ann Baker told AMD attendees that never in her 50+ years did she have an eye exam. Then she lost vision in an eye. She now has regular exams and monthly intraocular injections to prevent additional decline from her AMD.

AMD's Global Economic Cost of Visual Impairment study indicates the following:

• Betty Ann is among the estimated 733 million people worldwide whose vision is impaired.
• The cost of visual disorders worldwide is $3 trillion dollars.
• At the current rate of visual loss, the cost will grow by 2020 to $3.5 trillion, enough to support the economy of a nation as large as the United Kingdom.

A World Health Organization status report indicates that visual disorders exceed respiratory disease, diarrheal disease, unipolar depressive disorder, ischemic heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes on the impact of the quality of life. For more information on AMD or AMDAI, please visit amdalliance.org or e-mail info@amdalliance.org.