Mr. Speaker, my dad developed age-related macular degeneration, and I saw what a life-changing development that was.
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is an incurable disease that affects close to 2.5 million Canadians over the age of 50. It causes damage to the central part of the retina responsible for central vision, robbing Canadian seniors of their expected quality of life. However, there is hope that a new, non-invasive treatment currently awaiting Health Canada approval could positively impact the millions of Canadians who live with AMD and could result in Canada playing an important role in managing the disease globally.
Please join me in raising awareness of AMD and supporting the close to 2.5 million Canadian seniors living with this cruel disease.