Welcome to Macula Month and the macular disease issue of mivision. Macula Month is particularly meaningful this year, as we also mark the 25th anniversary of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA).

Raising awareness through Macula Month is not simply a campaign; it is intrinsic to why the Foundation was founded and how we continue to serve. For 25 years, supporting Australians living with macular disease has been at the heart of everything we do, and it remains central to our future.

A generation ago, macular disease was poorly understood, often diagnosed too late, and largely untreatable. Today, the landscape is fundamentally different. Through sustained national awareness efforts, more Australians understand the importance of early detection and regular eye checks. Clinicians are seeing patients earlier, and with the advent of intravitreal therapies, many are retaining vision that would once have been lost.

This transformation has not occurred by chance. It reflects the collective effort of clinicians, researchers, government and, importantly, a community determined to change the story of macular disease in Australia. MDFA has played a central role – providing trusted, evidence-based information, advocating for equitable access to care, and investing in research that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.

Equally important is the support we provide beyond the clinic. We know that for many patients, the real challenge begins after they leave your consulting room. Eye Connect was developed to bridge this gap — offering tailored, non-clinical support that strengthens understanding, builds confidence, and supports treatment adherence. Encouragingly, 95% of participants receiving intravitreal therapy report maintaining their treatment schedule while engaged with the Eye Connect program.

As we look ahead, our focus remains clear: to continue reducing the impact of macular disease through awareness, support, research and advocacy — working alongside you to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.

This Macula Month, I encourage you to take the next step in supporting your patients’ journey. Refer them to Eye Connect. Because what happens between appointments can be just as important as what happens within them.