Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. It is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. With the development of molecular biology and molecular genetics, multiple potentially causative genes have been identified. Current studies of susceptibility genes and genetic epidemiology of AMD are reviewed.
Blindness ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Molecular Epidemiology

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and to analyze the risk factors for AMD. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted involving 14,440 individuals. We assessed the prevalence of dry and wet AMD in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and analyzed the risk factors for AMD. Results: The prevalence of wet AMD in diabetic and non-diabetic patients was 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively, and the prevalence of dry AMD was 17% and 16.4%, respectively. The prevalence of wet AMD in healthy, hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, and hypertensive/hyperlipidemic populations was 0.5%, 0.3%, 0.2%, and 0.7%, respectively. The prevalence of dry AMD in healthy, hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, and hypertensive/hyperlipidemic populations was 16.6%, 16.2%, 15.2%, and 17.2%, respectively. Age, sex, body mass index, and use of hypoglycemic drugs or lowering blood pressure drugs were corrected in the risk factor analysis of AMD. Diabetes, diabetes/hypertension, diabetes/hyperlipidemia, and diabetes/hypertension/hyperlipidemia were analyzed. None of the factors analyzed in the current study increased the risk for the onset of AMD. Conclusion There was no significant difference in the prevalence of wet and dry AMD among diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of wet and dry AMD among subjects with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Diabetes co-existing with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were not shown to be risk factors for the onset of dry AMD.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology* ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Macular Degeneration/etiology* ; Risk Factors

Asia, Southeastern ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy

OBJECTIVES: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the 3 major eye diseases recognized by WHO to prevent blindness, and which is the main cause of irreversible visual impairment in the elderly. This study aims to analyze the disease epidemiological burden, and provide a theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of AMD in China based on the data in global burden of disease (GBD) 2019. METHODS: The prevalent cases/prevalence, disability-adjusted life year (DALYs)/DALY rate of AMD and socio-demographic index (SDI) for global and China were searched from the GBD 2019 database to analyze the epidemiological trend, age-period-gender trend of AMD in China from 1990 to 2019, and to evaluate the relations between the prevalence and SDI. RESULTS: In 2019, the prevalence of AMD in China was at a high level in the world, and the number of prevalent cases were 1.93 times of that in 1990. The prevalence and DALY rates continued to rise. The age trend of AMD in China was high at the middle of the age stages and low at the two ends, and which was higher in the female than in the male. With the increase of SDI, the prevalence of AMD was increased linearly. CONCLUSIONS The disease burden of AMD in China is increased significantly and is positively correlated with the social development from 1990 to 2019. It is of great significance to study the relationship between epidemilolgical data of AMD and social development level for diagnosis treatment and policy of AMD.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Global Burden of Disease ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Prevalence ; Macular Degeneration/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology*

PURPOSE: Information regarding corneal dystrophy among Koreans were examined according to the subtypes. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen patients, 340 eyes, diagnosed as corneal dystrophy and followed by one ophthalmologist from the year 1993 to 2001 were include. The incidence of the disease, the progression level of visual impairment, differences between genders, treatment method, and rate of recurrence after the treatment were analyzed according to the location of the lesion. RESULTS: Granular dystrophy was the most common type (103 eyes, 29.17%). There were 84 eyes (23.61%) with Fuchs dystrophy and 46 eyes (12.96%) with macular dystrophy. Macular dystrophy had the most rapid disease progression with 0.18 reduction in eyesight every year. There was a higher prevelance in female than male granular dystrophy (15.9/84.1%) and in Fuchs dystropy (23.5/76.5%). Keratoplasty was the most popular method of treatment in 45%. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference of prevalence in between Koreans and Western people. The most common type of corneal dystrophy was granular dystrophy. Infrequent type of dystrophy tended to increase by virtue of the development in diagnotic medicine.
Corneal Transplantation ; Disease Progression ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Prevalence ; Recurrence ; Virtues ; Vision Disorders

BACKGROUND: Weather conditions are a possible contributing factor to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible loss of vision. The present study evaluated the joint effects of meteorological factors and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) on AMD. METHODS: Data was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey conducted across 10 provinces in rural China. A total of 36,081 participants aged 40 and older were recruited. AMD was diagnosed clinically by slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Meteorological data were calculated by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis and were matched to participants' home addresses by latitude and longitude. Participants' individual PM_2.5 exposure concentrations were calculated by a satellite-based model at a 1-km resolution level. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models paired with interaction analysis were performed to investigate the joint effects of meteorological factors and PM_2.5 on AMD. RESULTS: The prevalence of AMD in the study population was 2.6% (95% CI 2.42-2.76%). The average annual PM_2.5 level during the study period was 63.1 ± 15.3 µg/m³. A significant positive association was detected between AMD and PM_2.5 level, temperature (T), and relative humidity (RH), in both the independent and the combined effect models. For PM_2.5, compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across increasing quartiles were 0.828 (0.674,1.018), 1.105 (0.799,1.528), and 2.602 (1.516,4.468). Positive associations were observed between AMD and temperature, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.625 (1.059,2.494), 1.619 (1.026,2.553), and 3.276 (1.841,5.830), across increasing quartiles. In the interaction analysis, the estimated relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) and the attributable proportion (AP) for combined atmospheric pressure and PM_2.5 was 0.864 (0.586,1.141) and 1.180 (0.768,1.592), respectively, indicating a synergistic effect between PM_2.5 and atmospheric pressure. CONCLUSIONS This study is among the first to characterize the coordinated effects of meteorological factors and PM_2.5 on AMD. The findings warrant further investigation to elucidate the relationship between ambient environment and AMD.
Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Macular Degeneration/etiology* ; Meteorological Concepts

PURPOSE: To assess the estimate prevalence and risk factors for age-related maculopathy (ARM) in Seoul, Korea. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 9,530 subjects with, 40 years of age or older between January 2006 and December 2006 in Seoul, Korea. Subjects underwent fundus photography, clinical examinations (including blood analyses), and completed detailed questionnaires. Fundus images were graded according to definitions from the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. RESULTS: ARM was present in 235 subjects, corresponding to an estimate prevalence of 2.46%. Hepatitis B infection (positive status for HBsAg and HBcAb), serum triglyceride levels and high density lipoprotein levels remained as significant risk factors after age-adjustment. Multivariate analyses showed that the prevalence of ARM was significantly higher in older subjects [odds ratio (OR) 1.134; 95% CI 1.114-1.154] and those who were seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (OR 2.566; 95% CI 1.519-4.335). CONCLUSION: The estimated prevalence of ARM was 2.46%. Age and hepatitis B infection may increase the risk of ARM.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B/complications ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lipoproteins, HDL/blood ; Macular Degeneration/blood/*epidemiology/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides/blood

PURPOSE: To analysis the epidemiology, distribution of age, and social welfare statue of low vision patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of age, visual acuity, underlying ocular disease, and optical aids of 102 patients who visited our clinic from March 2004 to March 2006. We had an interview with patients about their educational background, jobs and registration of legal blindness. RESULTS: The mean age was 40.87+/-22.72 years old and the patients in their forties were most common. The most frequent cause of low vision included optic atrophy (16.7%), macular degeneration (15.7%), retinitis pigmentosa (11.8%), congenital cataract (10.8%), glaucoma (6.9%), amblyopia (6.9%). 42 patients had already got the registration for legal blindness but, 41 patients were newly registered during this study. Under 20 years old, there were 17 general school students, 4 special school students, and 1 preschool child. Over 20 years old, there were only 14 patients who got regular job and all patients have educational attainment under high school graduate except 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of low vision has been changed to the aging society. And the registration of legal blindness criteria and understanding of low vision need to be changed. Moreover, understanding how low vision impacts lives is important to be able to provide better social services in the future.
Aging ; Amblyopia ; Blindness ; Cataract ; Child, Preschool ; Epidemiology ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Optic Atrophy ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Welfare* ; Social Work ; Vision, Low* ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To determine and compare the clinical characteristics, visual prognosis and treatment of hemorrhagic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (HPCV) with those of hemorrhagic choroidal neovascularization (HCNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 44 consecutive eyes with a submacular hemorrhage comprising more than 50% of the neovascular lesion. Patients were diagnosed as having HPCV or HCNV on the basis of indocyanine green angiography. RESUTLS: Of the 44 eyes with submacular hemorrhage, 26 were classified as HPCV and 18 as HCNV. The baseline patient characteristics were similar for both groups. At the final follow-up the HPCV group had 17 eyes showing visual improvement, four showing maintained vision, and five showing visual deterioration. In contrast, the HCNV group had four eyes showing visual improvement, one showing maintained vision, and 13 showing visual deterioration. Visual acuity of < 0.1 at follow-up was found in 7 (27%) of HPCV eyes and 10 (56%) of HCNV eyes. PDT was performed in 15 HPCV eyes, of which 13 (87%) showed improvement or no change in visual acuity, while only 2 (22%) of the 9 HCNV eyes responded similarly after PDT. Eyes treated with PDT did not have better outcomes compared to eyes that underwent other types of treatment (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PCV accounts for the largest proportion of submacular hemorrhage in Koreans. PCV showed a better visual prognosis than CNV.
Vision Disorders/etiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use ; Retinal Hemorrhage/drug therapy/*epidemiology ; Photochemotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Macular Degeneration/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Choroidal Neovascularization/drug therapy/*epidemiology

We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Koreans 50 yr of age or older who were examined at a single health promotion center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 10,449 subjects who visited the center over a 6-month period. Fundus photography was performed on all subjects, and systematic risk factor analysis was conducted using a structured questionnaire. All patients (n = 322) were initially diagnosed with drusen or early AMD using fundoscopy; the control group (n = 10,127) were those yielding normal fundoscopy findings. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of early AMD was 3.08%. Advanced age, male gender, smoking status, hyperlipidemia, working outdoors, and residence in rural areas were all significantly associated with an increased risk for development of early AMD. Higher-level ingestion of fruit or herbal medication and an increased amount of exercise were associated with a lower risk of early AMD development. In our Korean cohort, consisting principally of relatively healthy, middle-class urban adults, the prevalence of early AMD was 3.08% that is similar to that reported in earlier epidemiological studies. Several modifiable risk factors such as smoking and hyperlipidemia are associated with the prevalence of early AMD in our cohort.
Age Factors ; Cohort Studies ; Community Health Centers ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/complications ; Macular Degeneration/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking