The epidemiology of age-related macular degeneration

Purpoe To review the epidemiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Deign Evidence from epidemiologic data regarding the natural hitory of AMD and it rik factor are preented. Reult Large, oft druen aociated with pigmentary abnormalitie increae the rik of progreion to advanced AMD. Large oft druen may fade over time. Advanced AMD i more likely to be preent in white than black, depite the imilar prevalence of oft druen in both group. Neovacular AMD i more frequent than geographic atrophy in mot population-baed tudie in white in America, Autralia, and the Netherland than in imilar population-baed tudie in Iceland and Norway. After age and family hitory, there are few conitent relationhip of rik factor to AMD. Of thee, the relationhip of moking, hypertenion, and cataract urgery to advanced AMD have been mot conitent. Concluion Long-term epidemiologic tudie have provided information on the ditribution and the natural hitory of AMD and it aociated rik factor. It i not known what effect reduction of blood preure and the ceation of moking might have on the incidence and progreion of AMD.