Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Abstract
INDIVIDUALS WITH some signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) constitute a large and growing proportion of the elderly population worldwide.1 The etiology is still an enigma, and only a few risk factors have been consistently shown to be related to the onset of this disease, including cigarette smoking and increasing age.2-4 Nutritional factors are related to AMD, 5-8 and a multicenter randomized clinical trial demonstrated that a vitamin and mineral supplement reduces the risk for progression to the advanced forms of AMD and subsequent visual loss.9 Several other lifestyle and medical factors might play a role, eg, elevated cholesterol levels, 10,11 systemic hypertension, 10,12-14 and hormonal factors.15-17 A genetic predisposition exists, 18-21 but the relative contribution of genetics and environment to the development of AMD is unknown.