New research commissioned by Macular Disease Foundation Australia reveals the sacrifices Australians would make to save their sight, including delaying retirement, returning to work or reducing their superannuation contributions.
The findings, released as part of Macula Month 2026, show three in ten Australians would delay their retirement to afford sight-saving treatment if diagnosed with macular disease. 17 per cent would re-enter the workforce to afford sight-saving treatment. Over a quarter of working Australians believe they would go into debt, while 28 per cent of retirees believe they would go without treatment.
Approximately one in seven Australians over the age of 50 have some evidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Confronting reality
Macular Disease Foundation CEO Dr Kathy Chapman said the YouGov survey of more than 1,000 Australians aged 50-70 highlights a confronting reality, with many people understanding the critical need for treatment but unable to afford it.
‘No one should have to sacrifice a dignified retirement to save their vision. It’s an unacceptable choice that should concern all Australians,’ Dr Chapman said.
Michael from Sydney has AMD in both eyes and is still working at 81 to afford sight-saving treatment.
‘When I stop working, the injections will stop,’ Michael said. ‘Certainly in one eye, and most likely in both. From there it’s just a waiting game until I go blind. That’s the fear I live with every day.’
The findings also expose a stark reality for low-income households and pension card holders, the most financially vulnerable Australians.
‘There is simply no slack in household budgets for pensioners,’ Dr Chapman said. ‘With the rising cost of essentials like housing, energy and groceries, many cannot see any viable way to afford ongoing treatment.’
Treatment for AMD is frequent (typically every four to 16 weeks) and usually lifelong. Cost is one of the main reasons people stop their eye injections, with about 50 per cent of patients discontinuing treatment within five years.
Eye injections are primarily delivered in private ophthalmology clinics in Australia, with only around 28 percent of them offering bulk billing. This means more than 72,000 people having eye injections have no choice but to pay expensive out-of-pocket costs to receive their treatment to save their sight.
Sadly, that’s a price many Australians cannot afford.
Terrifying consequences
For patients like Michael, the consequences of stopping treatment are frightening. ‘The thought of losing my vision and driver’s licence is terrifying,’ Michael said. ‘It wouldn’t just affect my independence. It would rob me of my ability to care for my wife and drive her to medical appointments.’
To address this eye care crisis, Macular Disease Foundation is calling on the federal government to introduce a Neovascular AMD Treatment Incentive Program.
The aim of the program is to encourage ophthalmologists to bulk bill pension card holders having eye injections for neovascular AMD, and support those most at risk of stopping treatment due to burden of cost.
In 2010, the total annual economic cost of vision loss in Australia was estimated to be $16.6 billion or $29,000 per person with vision loss aged over 40.4 The total annual economic cost of vision loss associated with AMD specifically was estimated at $5.15 billion, of which the direct cost was $748.4 million ($6,982 per person).
These costs are likely to be an underestimate given they are from 2010 and have not been adjusted for inflation.
By targeting the most financially vulnerable people who need sight-saving treatment and encouraging more bulk billing, Macular Disease Foundation believes a Neovascular AMD Treatment Incentive Program would cost the government an estimated $40 million a year and ultimately save government $580 million annually.
