A pattern of age-related macular degeneration

Age related macular degeneration is a disorder of the macula most often clinically apparent affecting central vision and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the population above 50 years. The aim of this study is to determine clinical profile of AMD in Nepalese presenting to a Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.

It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The subjects included in the study were those presenting to the Ophthalmology department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital from July 2007- Dec 2007.The total number of individuals included in the study were 402 and total number of eyes were 804.

AMD was observed in 5.2% out of 402 subjects of 40 years and above age group with prevalence increasing with age. The prevalence of AMD was 0.7% within 40-50 years of age-group individuals increasing to 2.6% in 51-60 years, 6.5% in 61-70 years and to 19.3% among subjects above 71 years. This study revealed that the prevalence of AMD in females was higher with female preponderance in ratio of 2.5:1. 52.5 % AMD subjects in our study had visual impairment with 6/246/60 vision and 15% had vision <3/60-PL. Our study revealed statistically significant increased risk for AMD with aging (p=0.00). Increased risk was observed in female gender and diabetics though the Odds ratio (OR) was statistically insignificant (p=>0.01).

Prevalence of AMD in Nepalese presenting to Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital was 5% with female preponderance in ratio of 2.5:1. Aging showed statistically significant increased risk for AMD development in this study.