A CHARITY has thanked staff at an opticians for supporting a campaign to boost research funding into the biggest cause of blindness in the UK.

The Macular Society has thanked staff at a Vision Express store in Basingstoke after they teamed up for a UK-wide initiative to increase research funding into macular disease.

Throughout December 2018, Vision Express donated £1 from every £10 eye test performed to the Macular Society.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of blindness in the UK. Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected.

The disease affects people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces.

There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable.

Cathy Yelf, Macular Society chief executive, said: “Just 0.2 per cent of UK public medical research money is spent on macular disease. That is nowhere near enough to make real advancements into treatment or a possible cure.

“As a charity, we can’t do it alone, we rely on the support of our partners and donors to make this happen, so the commitment from Vision Express staff in Basingstoke is a valuable step towards meeting our target.”

For general information on macular disease, call the Macular Society’s Helpline on 0300 3030 111 or email help@macularsociety.org