Epidemiology of AMD

AMD, the leading cause of severe visual acuity loss and legal blindness in the Western population over 65 years of age, is a chronic, degenerative, progressive disease with a tendency to become bilateral. It affects the macula and in its two forms (atrophic and exudative) has a prevalence and incidence that increase exponentially with age, beyond the age of 55.
The pathogenesis is multifactorial and includes:
1) Demographic factors
a) Age advanced
b) Ethnicity white
c) Sex female

2) Behavioural factors
a) Smoke of cigarette
b) Alcohol consumption high
c) Diet low in antioxidants (carotenoids, vitamins C and E, some trace elements, omega-3 fats)
d) Obesity with a high body mass index
e) Physical activity reduced
f) Exposure to sunlight excessive

3) Ocular factors
a) Refractive error, in particular hypermetropia
b) Rainbow pigmentation poor
c) Cataract surgery
d) Initial degenerative changes over 65 years
e) DMLE in the eye versus lateral

4) Factors related to systemic diseases
a) Diabetes
b) Arterial hypertension
c) Dyslipidaemia

5) Genetic factors
The researchers have identified several chromosome regions that appear to contain susceptibility loci.