Latest Research on MD Awareness sends a clear message

The latest research commissioned by MDNZ shows that awareness of Macular Degeneration (MD) in people over the age of 50 has dropped from 60% in 2020 to 55% in 2024.

While MD is a disease affecting mainly older people, awareness of MD and eye health in general is important at any age to help prevent or delay the onset of the disease in later life.

Amongst all ages, only two out of five people have heard of MD and know that it affects the eyes. Considering the increased risk of MD from smoking, and having MD in your family, it is never too early to have conversations with young people about how to look after their eyes. Eye health messages should sit alongside other key health messages such as heart health and skin health.

The YouGov Research found that three in five New Zealanders have had their eyes checked by a health professional in the past two years. While the type of eye checks were not identified, it is gratifying to see that the majority of New Zealanders are having an eye check of some sort.

For many rural people, access to eye health professionals can be challenging. Many small rural towns do not have optometry services. The lack of public transport or the travel time to larger centres can be barriers to accessing services. The Research showed that 17% of rural people had not had an eye check in over 5 years (compared to 11% in urban centres).

One in ten New Zealanders identified accessibility as a barrier to having an eye health check. The most common barrier (42% of those surveyed), across both urban and rural communities, is the cost of the eye health check.

While we don’t know the reasons for the drop in awareness levels over the past four years from 60% to 55%, the clear message is that MDNZ’s awareness-raising work is far from done. The YouGov Research identified that those who are aware of MD, are more likely to have had their eyes checked in the last two years. They’re also less likely to say they face barriers to getting their eyes checked.

Raising awareness will save sight and ensure people with MD are supported to get the best outcomes possible. While MDNZ receives no government funding to do this, we will continue to do this work as best we can with the resources available to us. We would dearly love to see an increase in awareness in future research.