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Macular degeneration

How common is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of poor eyesight among older people.

In developed countries, poor eyesight from severe AMD affects:

Source:
Klein R, Klein BEK, Linton KLP.
Prevalence of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
Ophthalmology. 1992; 99: 933-943.

Source:
Vingerling JR, Dielemans I, Hofman A, et al.
The prevalence of age-related maculopathy in the Rotterdam study.
Ophthalmology. 1995; 102: 205-210.

Source:
Mitchell P, Smith W, Attebo K, et al.
Prevalence of age-related maculopathy in Australia: the Blue Mountains eye study.
Ophthalmology. 1995; 102: 1450-1460.

Source:
Gottlieb J L.
Age related macular degeneration.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 288: 2233-2236.

⁴

About 2 in 100 people over 50
About 8 in 100 people over 65
Up to 20 in 100 people over 85.

Sources for the information on this page:

Klein R, Klein BEK, Linton KLP.Prevalence of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.Ophthalmology. 1992; 99: 933-943.

Vingerling JR, Dielemans I, Hofman A, et al.The prevalence of age-related maculopathy in the Rotterdam study.Ophthalmology. 1995; 102: 205-210.

Mitchell P, Smith W, Attebo K, et al.Prevalence of age-related maculopathy in Australia: the Blue Mountains eye study.Ophthalmology. 1995; 102: 1450-1460.

Gottlieb J L.Age related macular degeneration.Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 288: 2233-2236.

This information was last updated on Oct 15, 2009

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