Our impact
We exist to Beat Macular Disease.
Thanks to your generosity, kindness and commitment to our common goal, you are bringing us closer to a cure. Your support means we can reach more people than ever and fund more groundbreaking research.
Our services impact
Jan 2023 - March 2024
Every one of our supporters makes a real difference to the lives of everyone affected by macular disease. With their help we provided advice and support for people affected by macular disease in the following ways:
- 11,766 people received advice and information from our Helpline team
- 4,525 people joined our online information webinars and conference live
- 10,436 people are linked to their local group, or have a relationship with their local group
- 913 people participated in our dedicated Facebook group bringing together younger people affected by macular disease
- 802 people received sessions from our specialist telephone counselling service
- 632 people were referred to our practical training for living with low vision
- 292 people joined our online course to learn new ‘seeing techniques’ using peripheral vision
- 427 people were supported by one of our volunteer telephone befrienders
- 199 people received information and advice about employment and benefits
- 156 people joined our Winter Warmer evening calls to reduce loneliness and isolation
- 147 people received support from one of our online communities for less common types of macular disease
- We trained and supported 1,039 volunteers, most of whom are affected by macular disease themselves, so they could help support others.
“I was going through a very difficult time. I’d just gone downhill. I just knew that I was feeling extraordinary anxiety. I didn’t want to do anything or communicate with anyone. I felt a constant sensation of panic and that I couldn’t cope with things.
I looked at the Macular Society website and I thought, maybe counselling will help me. I rang them up and it was all very quick and the person I spoke to was incredibly helpful. At first it was like an anchor to hang onto.
Then after a couple of weeks, through our conversations and the techniques we spoke about, I did get a grip again and found it immensely helpful.”
Geraldine, service user
Our research impact
Jan 2023 - March 2024
With the help of our supporters, our research programme to stop macular disease leading to sight loss achieved the following:
- Investment of £1,657,102 in 18 academic medical research projects to improve understanding of macular disease and find potential treatments.
- Ensuring a pipeline of new researchers coming into the field of macular research by funding six PhD studentships, three joint funded with Retina UK.
- Launching our first fellowship programme encouraging researchers to return to research after a career break, boosting expertise in the macular disease research sector.
- Introducing an expert lay panel of 19 members to improve patient and public input to our research funding process.
- Introducing travel grants to support two young researchers to attend ARVO, the primary academic conference in ophthalmic research.
- Funding two large projects on diabetic retinopathy in a collaboration with Diabetes UK, Moorfields Eye Charity and Fight for Sight.
- Appointing our first Macular Society research intern offering a paid career development opportunity for a partially sighted person.
- Launching a digital innovation programme with the appointment of our innovation manager to explore new technologies that can overcome
some of the challenges of sight loss. - Joining a new initiative, the UK Ageing Research Funders Forum, supporting early career researchers develop careers in ageing research to grow the field.
- Supporting clinical research in a variety of ways, such as collaborating with industry to fund a clinical trial, successfully leveraging £500K additional funding. We also ensure patient views are integral to the planning and conduct of clinical research by representing them or recruiting volunteers.
- Engaging with 18 pharmaceutical companies on clinical trials and new medication, and engagement with regulators on 3 new treatments.
“Without research into how sight is lost and ways of devising new treatments, there is no way to move forward. We are stuck where we are meeting the ever-growing demands of an aging population with complex health needs, including in the areas of sight loss and ophthalmology. The Macular Society is one of the few charities that actually funds research into vision loss.”
Dr Arjuna Ratnayaka, associate professor at the University of Southampton
How we raise and spend money
As more people are affected by macular disease it is more important than ever that we raise money to fund research into treatments and to find a cure, we sell as continuing to provide information and support for those with macular disease. Find out how we Beat Macular Disease.
For a more formal look at our finances and structure, you can also find our 2022 Annual report and accounts below.
Get the latest news and advice from the Macular Society
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