[Prevalence and risk factors of age-related maculopathy among middle aged people]

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of age-related maculopathy and the relationships of age-related maculopathy to age, sex, ocular factors, education, work exposures. A population-based cohort study included 1357 subjects (35-64 years of age) living in Kaunas (Lithuania), who were examined during the interval from 2001 to 2002. The diagnosis of age-related maculopathy was based on ophthalmoscopic findings or on fundus photographs. The prevalence of early age-related maculopathy was 7.3% in persons 40-64 years of age. No late age-related maculopathy (AMD) was found. Prevalence of early age-related maculopathy was strongly related to age (P<0.001). No significant prevalence differences were between the sexes. The frequency of age-related maculopathy was higher in eyes with light iris color but association was not significant. No associations were found between cataract or cataract type and ARM. There was no association between education and age-related maculopathy. Exposure to harmful work was found to be related to the presence of early age-related maculopathy in all. The prevalence of age-related maculopathy was significantly higher between men working in high temperature.