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Aetiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Aetiology of AMD is unknown but it is considered as a multifactorial disease. Several risk factors of macular degeneration have been recognised (1):

  • age:
    • most people presenting with macular degeneration are over 60 years of age

  • presence of precursor lesions e.g. – large drusen, soft indistinct drusen (2)
  • cigarette smoking
    • is a well known risk factor for the development of AMD
    • the risk is two to three-fold higher in current smokers and the risk also increases with the number of pack-years
    • people with a genetic susceptibility have a greater chance of developing AMD if they smoke (1)

  • race, usually Caucasian (3)

  • female sex (2)

  • hypertension (7)

  • BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher (7)

  • diet low in omega 3 and 6, vitamins, carotenoid and minerals (7)

  • diet high in fat (6,7)

  • lack of exercise (7)

  • presence of AMD in the other eye (7)

  • hereditary:
    • first degree relatives of patients with AMD are at an increased risk of acquiring the condition, specially at a younger age (4)
    • degenerative changes during childhood or adolescence tend to have genetic explanations e.g. Tay-Sachs disease

  • drug induced:
    • chloroquine and derivative drugs

There is an association with atheroma and dyslipidaemias (1).

Diet and risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD)

  • a diet low in trans-unsaturated fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil may reduce the risk of AMD (2)

Reference:

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