NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness America ( PBA), along with AMD Alliance International ( AMDAI) and leading eyecare organizations from 25 countries, has issued a call to action to doctors, patients and caregivers through the public awareness campaign “Don’t Surrender to AMD,” according to PBA. The announcement comes in conjunction with this year’s AMD Week, scheduled to take place Sept. 18 to 26.

Through its “Don’t Surrender to AMD” campaign, PBA said it has increased public education efforts—which will span across print, radio, and digital media, including an interactive e-card—to inform the public of preventative measures and treatment options that are available in the fight against AMD.

“This is a promising time for patients as preventative measures and effective, timely treatments have the ability to alter the disease tremendously,” said AMDAI’s chairman Don Curran. “But macular disease is only as preventable and manageable as people are knowledgeable. Knowing the facts can significantly improve a person’s chances of maintaining healthy vision and a better quality of life.”

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which affects more than 10 million older Americans, continues to be the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S., the organization said. The National Institute of Health projects the number of AMD diagnoses to double to 20 million by 2020. The global cost of the disease according to a recent report by AMDAI is estimated at $343 billion, underscoring the need for swift actions to raise awareness of prevention and treatment options.

To learn more about AMD Awareness Week, visit AMDalliance.org.