Macular Disease Society


Macular Degeneration (MD) results in loss of central vision and is the largest cause of registered blindness in the UK, where it affects over 500,000 people.  MD causes much distress, but since many sufferers are elderly and there is no cure, resources and support services are often not available.

The Macular Disease Society is the only UK charity dedicated to helping people with MD and aims to help achieve a better quality life.

The Society was founded in 1987 and is now the largest patient group for visually impaired people in the UK with 16000 members.  The Society is a national charity with its head office in Andover, Hampshire, and a growing local network of almost 200 volunteer run support groups across the UK.

The work of the Macular Disease Society can be broadly broken down into three areas:

Providing Information Help and Support

Helpline  - A busy helpline open to anyone needing advice or support.

Counselling Service – Free counselling service, used especially by people who have recently been diagnosed with MD.

Information – A wide range of leaflets and booklets which can be downloaded free from the website, or sent out in the post by the helpline.  Membership costs just £15.00 a year and members will receive the quarterly magazine “Side View” keeping members up to date with the latest treatments, low vision aids and activities.  Members also receive the annual Scientific Review, Digest.

Conferences – are held twice or three times a year around the UK

Local MDS Groups – a network of almost 200 groups throughout the UK, meeting regularly to provide support, information and encouragement. They welcome local speakers to group meetings and are always keen to involve volunteers.

Eccentric Viewing Training  - A network of trained volunteers who can offer eccentric viewing training free of charge.  This technique can help optimise use of the remaining peripheral vision and lead to increased reading speeds and improvements in many other day to day tasks.

Research

The Macular Disease Society sponsors selected research projects into the causes, cures and low vision assistance for macular degeneration. Since 2001 the charity has invested over three quarters of a million pounds in research.

Lobbying

The Society represents people with central vision loss in order to improve access to treatments and low vision services.  A recent success has been influencing The National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to recommend funding for the new drugs for treating ‘Wet’ MD.

Please contact the helpline for information and support on

Tel: O845 241 2041

Macular Disease Society

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