Blindness 'to double' in Ireland

The number of blind people in Ireland is set to double by 2020 due to an increase in the incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), an international conference on retinal research has heard.

AMD causes sight loss in older adults and affects around one in 10 people over 50. There is currently no cure, and while it is understood to be caused by disturbances of the immune system, the exact trigger is not yet known.

AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in Ireland with 7,000 new cases registered every year. There are currently 11,857 registered blind people in Ireland and some 80,000 AMD sufferers.

Irish charity Fighting Blindness estimates that the increasing number of AMD suffers will double the number of clinical blind registrations in Ireland by 2020 unless preventative action is taken.

"AMD is a seriously debilitating disease which has a significant impact on a person's independence, mobility and lifestyle. The indications are that this condition will increase threefold in the next two decades, creating a significant burden on the healthcare and social welfare systems," Professor Mike Comer, head of research at Fighting Blindness told the Retina '09 conference in Dublin today.

While there was as yet no cure, Irish researchers were making significant progress in discovering causes and potential treatments for the condition, he said.

"Targeted funding by Fighting Blindness for AMD research at this time will work towards alleviating this situation by expediting treatments and allowing useful vision to remain for longer."

He urged the Government to maintain its commitment to funding research throughout the economically difficult period, as work to alleviate AMD had provided clear economic returns in terms of keeping people in work.

Delegates from the Irish and international ophthalmic and scientific community attended the conference which discussed the latest developments in retinal research.

Prof Joe Hollyfield of the US based Cleveland Clinic told the conference that disruption of the natural rhythm of the immune system could be a trigger for AMD.

"While we know the immune system is involved, we don't yet know what starts the process off. The retina of the eye is extremely active tissue and it is possible that external stresses cause it to provoke the immune system," he said.