INCIDENCE OF LATE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IN EYES WITH RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN

To investigate the incidence of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over 3 years and risk factors for the development of late AMD in Korean patients having reticular pseudodrusen (RPD).

Clinical records of Korean RPD patients with no late AMD at first examination and completion of 3 years of regular follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent complete ocular examinations, including multimodal imaging. Reticular pseudodrusen were classified as a separate lesion different from other early AMD lesions, and RPD were not considered a sign of early AMD. Risk factors for the development of late AMD were assessed.

One hundred and ninety-two RPD eyes of 104 patients were included in this study. Mean age of patients was 69.4 ± 8.9 years, and other early AMD lesions were accompanied in 152 eyes (79.2%) at baseline. During 3 years, late AMD occurred in 30 eyes (15.6%); geographic atrophy in 24 eyes (12.5%); and neovascular AMD in 6 eyes (3.1%). Eyes having early AMD at baseline revealed significantly higher incidence for late AMD than those eyes having no early AMD at baseline (18.4% vs. 5%, P = 0.048). Late AMD occurred in 5 eyes (38.5%) from 13 fellow RPD eyes of unilateral late AMD at baseline. In logistic regression analysis, thin choroidal thickness, diffuse distribution of RPD, and the presence of late AMD on fellow eye at baseline were significant risk factors for developing late AMD in RPD eyes.

Reticular pseudodrusen eyes revealed various progression rates to late AMD according to AMD status of both eyes. More frequent monitoring should be considered for patients with RPD at risk of progression to late AMD.