Age-Related Maculopathy in a Randomized Trial of Low-Dose Aspirin Among US Physicians

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Abstract
AGE-RELATED maculopathy (ARM) is the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans.1 Despite its common occurrence, however, the pathophysiology of ARM is poorly understood and treatment options are limited.1 Although laser photocoagulation2-4 and, more recently, photodynamic therapy5,6 have been shown to be of benefit for a few patients with advanced disease, laser treatment merely delays subsequent vision loss,2,7 and the long-term effects of photodynamic therapy remain to be determined. Moreover, other than cigarette smoking,8-10 and perhaps low levels of antioxidant nutrients,11-13 no avoidable risk factors have been identified. In the absence of an effective means of disease prevention, the importance of ARM as a source of ocular morbidity will only increase as the US population ages. For these reasons, identification of inexpensive, safe strategies to prevent the common forms of ARM is of particular public health importance.1

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