The Macular Disease Society is dropping ‘disease’ from its name as members find the word off-putting.

From January 2013, the charity, which is the biggest patient member organisation in the sight-loss sector, will be known as the Macular Society.

Commenting on the rebrand, chief executive, Helen Jackman, said: “Many members have been telling us for years that they disliked the word ‘disease’. Our research suggested that some people felt it was so negative it may even put them off using our services or joining us.

“Members already often left it out when talking about the Society, suggesting that they didn’t even like saying the word. The research also indicated that we needed to modernise a little to make sure we serve the needs of people over the next 25 years.”

The cost of the rebrand, by agency Spencer du Bois, has been met by a restricted grant from the Chear Foundation.

More than 500,000 people in the UK have late-stage macular disease, which causes loss of central vision, making it hard to drive, read or recognise faces.