One of the leading cause of blindness in the elderly is Age-related maculopathy (ARM). Although beneficial therapeutic strategies have recently begun to emerge, much remains unclear regarding the etiopathogenesis of this disorder. The increasing socio-economic impact of AMD, coupled with its unclear pathogenesis and limited available therapies, has prompted researchers to identify risk factors for this condition. The population-based studies show that the prevalence of AMD is 0.2% in persons aged 55 to 64 years, and rises to 13% in individuals 85 years of age or older.
Risk factors The possible modifiable risk factors for ARM include smoking, body mass index, cumulative sunlight exposure, diet, alcohol consumption, and cardiovascular disease. While, nonmodifiable risk factors for ARM include: age, family history of ARM (early and/or late), iris color, and refractive error. Genetic…
