Quality of Life in Age-Related Macular Degeneration - CNIB

glaucoma. It usually affects those over 50 years of age and is untreatable in
the majority of cases. As people are living longer, the prevalence of MD is
likely to increase. Research shows that MD adversely affects people’s lives in
many ways.
Diagnosis of MD is a shock for most patients and often compounded by lack
of information, empathy and support from health professionals. As there is
usually no medical treatment available, patients are frequently told that
‘nothing can be done’, leaving them feeling depressed, angry and even
suicidal. People with MD are more likely to become depressed than the
general population, and depression in turn can increase the difficulty of
adjusting to MD.
People with MD may lose their independence, needing help with household
tasks, personal affairs and other aspects of daily life. Tasks such as shopping,
preparing meals and using the telephone are more troublesome for people
with MD than for similarly aged people with normal vision. Other health
problems associated with age, such as arthritis or osteoporosis and hearing
difficulties serve to impair function and damage quality of life still further.
Visual hallucinations can occur with MD. They are benign and often shortlived
but research shows that people are rarely warned that MD may cause
hallucinations and they may not report them, fearing dementia. Such
unnecessary worry may further impair their quality of life.
Rehabilitation, including provision of low vision aids and training in their use,
has been shown to benefit people with MD, improving their visual function.
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