Menopause and the Risk of Developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Korean Women

Previous studies have shown that menopausal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women results in a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of menopause and patient factors on the development of age-related macular degeneration in Korean women. Data between 2011 and 2014 were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance database. In this retrospective cohort study, 97,651 participants were premenopausal and 33,598 were menopausal. Participants were divided into menopausal and premenopausal groups to analyze the risk factors associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration. The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration was compared between the two groups. Other patient factors were also analyzed. Using a 1:1 propensity score matching method and adjusting for variables, the incidence of age-related macular degeneration was not significantly different between the two groups. Age and diabetes mellitus were associated with an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, regardless of menopause. Menopause was not a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration. These findings may help physicians identify women with diabetes who are at a greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.