“When we are talking about this condition called age-related macular degeneration, we are talking about individuals of about 50 years of age” Dr Mendis begins.

It can affect those who are younger, but such cases occur far less often.

Macular degeneration is a progressive disease that affects a particular layer of cells in the eye called the retinal pigment epithelium.

You don’t go completely blackout blind, but you do start losing your central visual function.

That is, the things in the centre of your field of view become very difficult to see. Meanwhile your peripheral vision should still be somewhat normal.

This means it can get bad enough that you become legally blind.

There are two varieties of macular degeneration. These are known as dry and wet.

For the dry form of the disease, there is currently no cure, but for the wet there is.

The dry condition is a slow degeneration and the best thing you can do, at the early or intermediate stage, is make sure your diet is as nutritious as possible so as to not make it any worse than it has to be.

“There are also vitamins and supplements that can be taken. Studies have been done to show there may be benefits” notes Dr Mendis.

For the wet condition, “one of its key features is it’s a rapidly-progressing condition. If treated early you can prevent structural damage and vision loss.”

There are injections available for the wet condition, and if routinely performed your outcome can be improved dramatically.

The PBS will underwrite the treatments for some people with the wet condition, and this treatment can “prevent vision loss and contain the disease.”

If you suspect you may be becoming affected “there is a self-test you can do called the Amsler Grid Eye Test” notes Dr Mendis.

“The advantage is you can do a self-test of your sight, and if it shows any reduction or distortion, you should then get yourself tested by a medical specialist.”

Helpfully, Canberra Retina Clinic have a colour version of the Amsler grid on their website.

Just head to www.canberraretinaclinic.com.au/amsler-color-grid.html to test yourself or a loved one.