Sight loss event to launch new support group in St Andrews

The Macular Society is planning to open a dedicated support group in the town and volunteers will play an important role in helping to oversee its activities.

Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to attend the information day on Tuesday, March 4, between 11:00am-12.30pm at Cosmos Community Centre, Abbey Walk, to find out more.

The event is also open to people living with macular disease, which causes central vision loss, as well as other sight loss conditions. It will offer information about conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and highlight the wide range of local support available to people living with a visual impairment. Iona McLean, Macular Society regional manager, said: “Events like these are a great way to raise awareness of macular disease and highlight the support and help on hand to people living with this currently incurable disease. We would like anyone affected by sight loss to come along and meet others in the same situation.

“If you have AMD or any other macular condition, or if you have a friend or family member who has been affected by sight problems, then please come and see us.”

Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected by macular disease, many more are at risk and the disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces.

Many people affected by macular disease describe losing their sight as being similar to bereavement. There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable. AMD is the most common form of macular disease, affecting more than 54,000 people in Scotland – 700,000 across the UK – usually over the age of 50.