ABSTRACT
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most
frequent cause of blindness among individuals R55
years in developed countries, is a major public health
problem (1-5). Using estimated rates from a meta-
analysis of recent population-based studies in the
United States, Australia, and Europe, and the 2000
U.S. census data, it has been estimated that the
overall prevalence of late AMD (neovascular AMD
and/or geographic atrophy) in the U.S. population
R40 years is 1.47% [95% confidence interval (CI),
1.38-1.55] (1). This translates to 1.75 million citizens
having the most severe forms of the disease. The
prevalence of AMD increases dramatically with age
such that in white women R80 years, more than 15%
have neovascular AMD and/or geographic atrophy.
More than 7 million individuals have drusen
measuring 125 mm or larger and are, therefore, at
substantial risk of developing late AMD. Owing to
the progressive increase in the life expectancy and the
proportion of elderly persons in the population, it is
estimated that the number of persons having late
AMD will increase by 50% to 2.95 million in 2020 (1).
The increasing impact of AMD, coupled with the
limited therapy available for its treatment, has led
many investigators to search for factors that could be
modified to prevent the onset or alter the natural
course and prognosis of AMD. The identification and
modification of risk factors has the potential for greater
