Sep 14 2008
Cardiovascular Risk Factors May Play a Role in AMD
Reducing cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure may reduce the risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
A study of Latino adults in Los Angeles looked at the association between cardiovascular risk factors and advanced AMD.Â
AMD was tested via intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and stereoscopic macular photography in 5,875 participants. Hypertension was defined as either a history of hypertension or systolic blood pressure (SBP) higher than 140 mmHg +/- diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 85 mmHg or higher. Ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was defined as the difference between mean arterial blood pressure and IOP.
Once researchers adjusted for age, gender and cigarette smoking:
 • higher DBP and uncontrolled diastolic hypertension were associated with exudative AMD
 • higher OPP was associated with a decreased risk of geographic atrophy (GA)
 • low pulse pressure was associated with a lower risk of exudative AMD
 • obesity was associated with increased retinal pigment.Â
Researches suggest that in Latinos, cardiovascular risk factors may play a role in advanced AMD. Actions aimed at reducing these risk factors may also have a beneficial impact on the risk of having early and advanced AMD.Â
Read more about AMD
See other research about macular degenerationÂ
SOURCE: Fraser-Bell S, Wu J, Klein R, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors and age-related macular degeneration: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol 2008;145(2):308-16Â
