The China Association of Health Promotion and Education kicked off a program in Beijing to raise public awareness about macular degeneration. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Macular degeneration is a threat that Chinese society needs to pay more attention to, a key health association has said.

Also known as age-related macular degeneration, the condition occurs due to damage to the macula of the retina, and often results in blurred or loss of central vision in one or both eyes.

The disease typically occurs in people older than 45, while genetic factors and an unhealthy lifestyle, including smoking, also play a role.

Recently, the China Association of Health Promotion and Education, an association affiliated to the National Family Planning and Health Commission, kicked off a program in Beijing to raise public awareness about macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration is the third leading cause of vision loss among seniors globally, and in China there are about 32 million seniors－people older than 60－suffering from the condition, the association said.

It is also the leading cause of seniors' vision loss in China, and in people older than 50 the condition is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness, according to the association.