Check Your Eyes Before It's Too Late

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 21 Jul 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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People have the opportunity to have their eyes checked with one-of-a-kind equipment for free, while helping to solve the mystery behind the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Even people with healthy eyes, aged 50 and over, are being encouraged to participate in the Queensland University of Technology study. Eye specialist and QUT researcher Dr Beatrix Feigl is embarking on the study to detect the early signs of age-related macular degeneration, a disease that progressively causes vision loss.

Dr Feigl has received an inaugural Vice-Chancellor Fellowship to help conduct the research.

"Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia and one in three Australians will be affected to some degree by it," Dr Feigl said.

"As yet there is no cure, but if it is detected early enough, steps can be taken to prevent the condition from worsening.

"It's very important to detect the condition before there is damage because you can only preserve existing eyesight."

Dr Feigl will use extremely sensitive, non-invasive instruments which are unique to QUT to look for early signs of macular degeneration.

"People can have their vision measured for free with tests not available anywhere else in Australia," she said.

"It's a very thorough eye test with immediate feedback.

"We need people with healthy eyes to help find early detection measures."

Dr Feigl said general health and genetics influenced a person's chance of developing the eye disease.

"Smoking and a poor diet low in vitamins and omega-3 can increase the risk," she said.

"Also, if you know one of your parents had age-related macular degeneration, it is worth taking extra care of your eyes.

"And always be sure to have your eyes tested while they are still healthy."

Source
Queensland University of Technology

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