Speaking at the launch of AMD awareness week, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor called people to get tested, making the point that around 75-80% of blindness is preventable. The Your Defining Moment Campaign was launched in Dublin this morning.

“This is a wonderful initiative and an initiative that is very close to my heart. It pains me to hear that every year in this country about 7,000 more people will stop seeing some or all of these beautiful things and more, bringing the total number of people suffering from AMD in Ireland to almost 100,000.

“Creating awareness of eye conditions such as AMD and encouraging testing is vital and I am delighted that the mobile testing unit will be testing for AMD in my own Constituency at Dún Laoghaire LexIcon this week

“Today we can all make a difference by encouraging our friends and family to take control of their vision health.

“The key message that we must all leave with today is that awareness is key. Awareness leads to screening and treatment, an ultimately blindness prevention.”