Who Is At Risk For Age Related Macular Degeneration
Age Related Macular Degeneration: Who is at Risk?
Aside from affecting older patients there are others who present with a higher risk. Caucasians and women are at higher risk for age related macular degeneration (AMD). The risk is increased for both the wet or dry type of AMD. There is also growing evidence that AMD has a genetic link and tends to occur more frequently in some families.
There are other known factors that increase the likelihood of developing AMD. These risks include obesity, smoking, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Additionally patients with lighter colored eyes (iris) appear to have a higher incidence of AMD. Having a direct family member with AMD appears to increase the probability that a person can develop AMD. Both exposure to direct sunlight and UV rays along with a diet that is high in fat also seem to increase the propensity of developing AMD. Lastly there has been some inconsistent data showing that exposure to certain drugs can increase the risk for AMD. These drugs include a class used for the treatment of malaria as well as for the treatment of psychosis. The latter drugs are called “phenothiazines.”
Age is the most obvious risk factor and that is why either dry or wet macular degeneration is called “age related”. Studies show that about 1% of patients in their 60’s will have AMD whereas this number increases to 15% or more in persons who have reached their 90’s. Therefore, the “age related” moniker becomes quite evident.
There has been some conflicting scientific information regarding the pigment or color of the eye. Lighter skinned individuals with lighter eye color have been observed to have a higher incidence of AMD in some studies prompting physicians to believe that darker pigment might help block damaging UV light from the sun. However, this finding has been contradicted in some studies.
Smoking is clearly a risk factor as 25% or more of the patients with AMD have a history of long term smoking. Likewise hypertension is associated with an increased chance of developing this dreaded eye disorder. Obesity more than doubles the risk for developing AMD, and some of the latest research seems to be pinpointing the actual genes that may be responsible for the increase of the disease within certain families.
Because the early symptoms of AMD can be very slight, it is important for patients to have periodic professional eye examinations by the time they reach 50. A very large study has shown that certain nutritional supplements can slow the progression of AMD once the diagnosis has been made. Those supplements should include vitamins A, E, and C as well as the minerals zinc and copper. Lutein also seems to be a very important item in the slowing of the progression of AMD and possibly in the delaying of the onset.
In patients who are destined to develop AMD there appears to be some logic behind the use of these preparations in order to potentially delay the onset of macular degeneration. People over the age of 50 may gain some protection by using ocular nutritional items before AMD is ever diagnosed.
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