Macula Matters

A macular disease update for eye health professionals

May is Macula Month, an initiative of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA).

Every year, MDFA’s Macula Month campaign raises awareness of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and other conditions of the macula.

As always, we appreciate the enthusiastic support of health care professionals. Together, we have raised awareness of macular disease and changed behaviours in Australians over the age of 50. Awareness, early detection, and prevention remain key messages.

In 2022 we will once again be encouraging Australians to visit their eye health professional for a macula check and to learn about risk factors through our Check My Macula quiz.

To support this year’s Macula Month campaign, please download your communication toolkit, which contains everything you need to communicate these key messages throughout May.

• CPD webinar: Non-Neovascular AMD: Update on Novel Interventions and Clinical Assessment

  Join a panel of speakers from the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) on Tuesday 31 May at 6.30pm for this free CPD webinar for Optometrists.

  Presented by Prof Robyn Guymer AM, Dr Zhichao Wu, Sandy Rezk and Jason Taylor, this webinar will help you better understand disease classification and assessment in non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and understand findings from recently completed clinical trials and how optometrists can contribute to helping find new treatments.

  Register your attendance

• CPD webinar: Diabetic Eye Disease – A GP’s Perspective

  Join Dr Gary Deed and Ophthalmologist A/Prof Peter van Wijngaarden on Tuesday 7 June at 7.00pm for this free CPD webinar for GPs.

  This webinar will cover important Diabetic Eye Disease (DED) information for GPs, including:
  – DED overview and risk factors
  – Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): clinical signs and symptoms, how to assess for DR effects on vision
  – How GPs can best assist patients with DED: noticing when symptoms worsen, key questions for screening diabetic patients, referrals and maintaining the multi-disciplinary relationship, management

  Register your attendance

• CPD webinar: Age-related Macular Degeneration for Pharmacists

  Join A/Prof Geraldine Moses and Ophthalmologist Dr David Hilford on Wednesday 11 May at 7.00pm for this free CPD webinar for Pharmacists.

  This webinar will cover important AMD information for Pharmacists, including:
  – AMD overview and risk factors
  – Symptoms: common symptoms, noticing when symptoms worsen
  – Management and referral: role of supplements, maintaining the multi-disciplinary relationship
  – How pharmacists can better assist patients with AMD

  Register your attendance

• Proposed Medicare rebate cut rejected

  Macula Month began with a major advocacy win for the macular disease community, when both major political parties rejected an independent recommendation by the Medicare Benefits Scheme Taskforce to cut the Medicare rebate for eye injections.

  Since the recommendation was drafted by the Taskforce in 2019, MDFA has engaged with both the Government and the Opposition to campaign against the cut.

  And both sides of politics listened, committing to rejecting the proposed cut when either party forms the next Government after this month’s Election.

  “I can now get on with life and not have to worry about the cost of maintaining my eyesight,” said one nAMD patient.

  Read more about MDFA’s advocacy win

• Macular disease research highlights

  Optometrist and MDFA Research Assistant Victoria Heaton shares the most interesting and relevant articles from recent versions of MDFA’s weekly research update.

  Read the recent research you need to know

• Improving nAMD treatment adherence

  Specsavers and MDFA have announced a strategic scoping partnership to increase support for patients diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

  Learn how this partnership helps patients

• Providing education to healthcare professionals

  MDFA has teamed up with the Brien Holden Foundation to increase access to eye care for Indigenous communities and address the inequities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.

  Find out how MDFA is working with HCPs

• Geographic atrophy and quality of life

  Apellis announced the results of their new global Geographic Atrophy Insights Survey (GAINS) in April. The study reports that the impact on independence and quality of life is worse than expected.

  Read the full GAINS report

Posted: 5 May 2022