Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly (aged 60 years and older) in developed countries. AMD is a potentially blinding eye condition which predominantly affects central reading vision and the other common tasks such as the ability to recognise faces.

With Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, AMD is likely to become a major public health problem here. In response to the emerging challenge of AMD, the department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is organising the AMD Awareness Week from 28 August to 03  September in collaboration with many national and international organizations to raise the awareness of AMD.

As a part of the activities of the AMD Awareness Week, we will be hosting art exhibits by award‐winning London based artist, Mr Adam Hahn, from 28 August to 03 September. This exhibition, which is the first of its kind in Singapore, will display portraits depicting how patients with varying severities of AMD

actually see the world through their eyes. The exhibit of 16 portraits opens on 28 August 2010 at 10am.

Mr Hahn will be present on the day to discuss his work and what inspired him to do it. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will continue through 03 September, 5pm.

The work is a result of more than a year of study of AMD – a disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in those over 50 in the developed western world. Prior to painting each portrait, Hahn spoke at length with each subject about what they can and cannot see. His paintings illustrate how the individuals in the portraits would see themselves through the blur of their limited vision. As Hahn puts it, "Normally my work shows how I view the person sitting for the portrait. Through these works, I show

how the subjects see themselves and others." Adam created the portraits in memory of his

grandmother who was affected by macular degeneration.

Hahn’s work has been widely acclaimed by the London Times and BBC. Twice a recipient of the BP

Portrait Award hosted by the National Portrait Gallery, London, Hahn had a year in which to research macular degeneration. With the assistance of The London Project to Cure Blindness, he spent time with patients suffering from the condition, and gathered data at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of

Ophthalmology. He used his research to direct these paintings.