Body Mass Index and the Incidence of Visually Significant Age-Related Maculopathy in Men

Abstract
AGE-RELATED maculopathy (ARM), a degenerative condition affecting the central regions of the retina and choroid, is the leading cause of blindness among older adults in developed countries, including the United States.1-5 Because its prevalence increases dramatically with age, ARM is likely to become an even greater public health problem in the future. Age-related maculopathy is not treatable in most cases; thus, a preventive approach is desirable. To this end, epidemiologic studies have been undertaken to identify potentially modifiable factors associated with the development of ARM.