Quick Guides
for People with an Eye Disease

Please see below for an overview of the pamphlets available, and click on each box to learn more or download the corresponding PDF.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): A Quick Guide

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an eye disease of the retina, the layer at the back of your eye that is vital to maintaining vision.¹ This pamphlet will help you to learn more about DR, and also covers proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR & NPDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

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PRP Laser Treatment: A Quick Guide

Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP) laser treatment is a medical procedure for people with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).²Unlike laser treatments used for correcting vision, such as LASIK, PRP laser is used to stabilize vision and prevent the progression of diabetic eye disease.³ This pamphlet will help you to learn more about this procedure.

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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A Quick Guide

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an age-related condition that manifests when aging causes damage to the macula – the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision.^4,5 This pamphlet will help you to learn more about the condition.

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Eye Injections: A Quick Guide

You may hear your doctor refer to eye injections as intravitreal injections. The injection is a procedure where medication is placed directly into the vitreous cavity, which is a space at the back of your eye.⁶ This pamphlet will help you to learn more about eye injections.

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Preparing for Your Ophthalmologist Visit: A Quick Guide

If you have recently been referred by your Optometrist to an Ophthalmologist, it may help to know more about your eyes and vision before your first visit. This pamphlet will help you to prepare for your appointment.

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Resources and Support for People with an Eye Disease

If you are living with an eye disease, there are a number of resources available to help you learn more about your condition and how to adapt to living with vision loss, and connect you to communities that can support you. This pamphlet has been created to help you start exploring resources that may help you now or in the future.

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Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): A Quick Guide

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) occurs when there is a blockage of the vein that carries blood away from the retina.⁷ This blockage can cause blood vessels to leak fluid, leading to swelling of the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for your central vision and is used to see things in fine detail (e.g. text, faces).⁸ New abnormal blood vessels can also start to grow.^9,10 This pamphlet will help you learn more about the condition.

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Transportation Resources Guide

If you are living with an eye disease, there are a number of resources and transportation options that may be available within your community. These resources may be able to help you get to and from your medical appointments.

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“Diabetic Retinopathy”, Fighting Blindness Canada, last modified October 27, 2020, https://www.fightingblindness.ca/eyehealth/eye-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy/#resources-drm
“Panretinal Photocoagulation”, American Academy of Ophthalmology, last modified June 17, 2023, https://eyewiki.aao.org/Panretinal_Photocoagulation
“Panretinal Photocoagulation Laser (PRP)”, National Health Service, last modified September 30, 2019, https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/panretinal-photocoagulation-laser-prp/
“Age-Related Macular Degeneration”, Fighting Blindness Canada, last modified July 21, 2023, https://www.fightingblindness.ca/eyehealth/eye-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration/
“Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)”, National Eye Institute, last modified June 22, 2021, https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration
“Intravitreal injection,” Medline Plus, accessed October 6, 2023, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007629.htm
“Retinal vein occlusion”, Medline Plus, January 29, 2024, https ://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007330.htm
“Macula”, American Academy of Ophthalmology Macula, 2024, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/macula-6
“What is retinal vein occlusion?”, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2024, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/retinal-vein-occlusion-3
“Retinal vein occlusion”, American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki, June 24, 2024, https://eyewiki.org/Retinal_Vein_Occlusion

Quick Guidesfor People with an Eye Disease

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): A Quick Guide

PRP Laser Treatment: A Quick Guide

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A Quick Guide

Eye Injections: A Quick Guide

Preparing for Your Ophthalmologist Visit: A Quick Guide

Resources and Support for People with an Eye Disease

Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): A Quick Guide

Transportation Resources Guide

Quick Guides
for People with an Eye Disease