Simple eye test you can do at home could save your vision Canadians urged to set their sights on the Amsler Grid

Toronto, Canada – Thirty seconds is all it takes – less time than it takes to brush your teeth. But spending 30 seconds on a test called the Amsler Grid could have powerful implications: it could prevent you from suddenly losing your sight.

The Amsler Grid is a simple test for an eye disease called wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of significant vision loss in Canadians over 50.

The devastating disease develops quickly, often in a matter of days or weeks, robbing people of their central vision. For the 100,000 Canadians affected with wet AMD, there is no cure, but proven treatment is available. However, treatment is much more effective when the disease is caught early, unfortunately by the time most people notice signs of wet AMD or seek help, much of the damage has already been done.

“AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Canadians and affects 55 per cent of the people that come to CNIB. In fact, it is the leading cause of vision loss in the developed world,” says Dr. Keith Gordon, Head of Research, CNIB. “By using the Amsler Grid as a first form of detection, Canadians can prevent much damage to the eye.”

September 21-27, 2008, is Macular Disease Awareness Week in Canada. To mark the week, CNIB and AMD Alliance International are urging the public to make the Amsler Grid a part of their daily or weekly routine.

“Wet AMD is striking in epidemic proportions,” says Dave Herman, Chair, AMD Alliance International. “But there is something we can all do about it. The Amsler Grid is your best first line of defense to catch it in the earliest stages. It’s easy, and you can do it at home.”

Although CNIB and AMD Alliance International recommend the test for all adults, it is even more critical for those who have particular risk factors for wet AMD. The major, proven risk factors for the condition include:

• Age (wet AMD often affects people over 50, although you can develop the disease at any age)
• Smoking, or having a past history as a smoker
• Having a family history of macular degeneration
• Having the dry form of macular degeneration, which can develop into the wet form of the disease.

The test consists of a large grid with a dot in the middle. People taking the test cover one eye and look to see if any of the lines on the grid appear wavy, blurred or otherwise distorted. Then they repeat with the other eye. The grid should be placed on a refrigerator or at eye level in any area where people will be reminded to use it frequently.

“The Amsler Grid is a 30 second investment that could save your sight,” says Don Curran, International Patient Ambassador for AMD Alliance International. “Using the grid is one of the best things you can do for yourself. We’d like people to spread the word about it, particularly if you know someone who is at risk in your family.”

The Amsler Grid is a self test tool; it is not a substitute for regular medical advice or eye tests. To download a free copy of the Amsler Grid and instructions on how to use it, visit http://www.cnib.ca/en/your-eyes/eye-conditions/amd/diagnosing/amsler-grid.

About AMD

For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
416-486-2500
info@cnib.ca