Emphysema, Airflow Limitation, and Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an important cause of visual loss in Americans 65 years of age or older.1 Its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Aside from age, smoking, and genetic factors, few risk factors have been found to be consistently associated with this condition in epidemiological studies.1-3 Two population-based studies have reported poorer respiratory function and a history of physician diagnosis of emphysema to be associated with the risk of AMD.4-6 In the Framingham Eye Study, decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) and a history of pulmonary symptoms were associated with AMD.4 In the Beaver Dam Eye Study, a self-reported history of emphysema at baseline was associated with the 15-year incidence of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) depigmentation and exudative AMD (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-8.4; P = .04).6 These associations were independent of smoking and other factors.