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The purpose of this web site is to provide information to the public about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. Professionals such as ophthalmologists, other types of physicians, optometrists, researchers, rehabilitation specialists, and health educators may also find the site useful, especially for their patients.
There is no cure for AMD. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop treatments for this disease, especially for its earliest phases before severe and irreversible vision impairment occurs.
Despite the fact that 13 million Americans over age 40 have AMD, the public is largely unaware of AMD’s existence and its devastating impact on vision and the threat it poses to the enjoyment of everyday life. Unfortunately, this lack of public awareness about AMD may be serving as a barrier to progress in developing treatments for the disease. Here at The Age-related Macular Degeneration Project we believe that an informed public is a major motivator for identifying the resources to find a cure.
In this web site, you’ll find a wide variety of information about AMD. Topics covered are listed on the left and are just a mouse click away. We welcome your feedback. In fact, on each page there is a link to a brief survey that we hope you’ll consider completing. Your guidance will help us improve this web site and make it more successful in enhancing the public’s awareness of AMD so that together we can work towards effective treatments and preventions.