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We provide free information and support to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends, to help people keep their independence.

Being diagnosed with macular disease can feel distressing, overwhelming, and leave you with many questions – not just about your eyes, but about what life will look like next.  

Coping with a diagnosis

A macular condition can bring practical and emotional life changes for those diagnosed and for their family and friends.

When you are first diagnosed with macular disease, it can be a shock and you might not know what to do next. You might not even fully understand what your new condition is. This section will guide you in what you need to do. You can carry out these actions in any order you wish and it is important you go at your own pace. There is no right or wrong way.

Macular degeneration can have a big impact on your everyday life, however with the right information and support you can overcome your worries and maintain your independence.

Living with sight loss affects more than just your vision. It can have a deep and lasting impact on your emotional wellbeing too.

Macular disease affects people of all ages, though age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is most common among older adults. The Macular Society supports everyone impacted by macular disease, including those with other types of macular disease who may be younger or still working.

There may be times when you need extra support to help you understand or cope with your sight loss. We offer a variety of services to help you keep your independence and to ensure you never feel alone.

Overcoming the fear of injections

When Hazel was told she would need an injection to treat her wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) she was petrified. But after her first injection her anxieties eased when she realised it was not as scary as it had first seemed.

The current recommended treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular oedema (DMO), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) require injections into the eye (intravitreal injections). Before the injection, the eye is numbed with local anaesthetic and povidone iodine (brand name Betadine) is used to clean the eye and the eyelids.