Overview of progress in the epidemiology of age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To provide an over-view of progress in the epidemiology of age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Review of epidemiological and clinical trial findings regarding AMD since initial National Eye Institute sponsored epidemiology meeting in 1982. Results: A growing number new epidemiological studies have provided data on the prevalence and long-term incidence of AMD. Despite a similar prevalence of early AMD in whites, blacks, and hispanics, whites have higher prevalence of late AMD. An age-period cohort effect has been shown in the Beaver Dam Eye Study suggesting that AMD incidence may be declining among younger birth cohorts. Genetic factors such as complement factor H have been shown to be strongly associated with AMD. Smoking is strongly related to risk of AMD. Randomized controlled clinical trials have shown the benefits of zinc-antioxidant supplementation in preventing visual loss in persons with signs of early AMD and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in restoring vision in eyes with neovascular AMD. Conclusions: Despite remarkable progress in understanding AMD, many questions remain that can only be addressed by continuation of longitudinal population-based studies.