Eye&Vision – Risk factors for vision

  • Age:
    The risk of developing macular degeneration or of the disease worsening increases steadily with age in people over 55.
  • Ethnicity:
    The incidence of macular degeneration appears higher in Caucasians than in Afro-Americans and women are at higher risk.
  • Hypertension:
    AMD and hypertension have often been found to be correlated. Specifically, the correlation between high systolic pressure and exudative AMD, but no correlation was found between hypertension and atrophic AMD.
  • Obesity:
    the risk of disease progression in overweight patients affected by degenerative macular disease is double compared to that of patients with normal body weight.
  • Genetic factors:
    recent studies have shown that specific variations of two different genes can be found in most subjects affected by macular degeneration. Family history of macular degeneration also influences the chances of developing the disease.
  • Smoking:
    Smoking is associated with about 25% of AMD cases. The disease may develop in smokers 5-10 years before it develops in non-smokers and the chances of developing the neovascular form are double.
  • Excessive exposure to light
  • Fat and cholesterol-rich diet