The Institut supports the International Day of Older Persons with its “Live for seeing” campaign

October 1 is the International Day of Older Persons. We at the Institut de la Màcula wish to support this day for raising awareness by presenting “Live for seeing”, a campaign directed at Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is aimed at the over-50s, the intention being to highlight the importance of early detection in combating eye diseases. The campaign boasts the collaboration of the Barcelona Macula Foundation: Research for Vision.

Over forthcoming months, and tying in with the International Day of Older Persons and World Sight Day (held on October 8), the Institut de la Màcula will be organising open days at its premises at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona for the conducting of AMD screening tests.

From the age of 50, many diseases like Age-Related Macular Degeneration begin to manifest themselves and often fail to provide patients with evident symptoms. This is why early detection is crucial, especially for those people with a family history of AMD.

According to United Nations’ figures, there are currently almost 700 million people of over 60 in the world. It is calculated that in 2050 this number will have risen to 2 billion, over 20% of the world’s population and above the percentage of children.

Furthermore, life expectancy has increased throughout the world. In the 1950s, global life expectancy was 46 and now this average is 68. By the end of the century, it is forecast to have reached 81.

As a result, early detection is essential to attempt to halt the progression of diseases that, if they go undetected, will advance relentlessly. It follows that it is of paramount importance to periodically visit the ophthalmologist from the age of 50.

Life is there to be seen. That’s why we should “Live for seeing”.