Epidemiology of retinal disease

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinal disease (DRD), retinal vascular occlusion, retinal detachment, pathologic myopia, macular hole, and epiretinal membrane are major causes of blindness and visual impairment globally. Studies on the epidemiology of these retinal diseases exhibit significant heterogeneity in terms of study design, population, timeframe, and disease definition. Recent data suggest increases in the prevalence and/or incidence of AMD, DRD, retinal vein occlusion, and pediatric myopia, but projecting the future epidemiologic burden of these disorders is difficult due to the disparate impact of demographic, diagnostic, and treatment-associated changes. This chapter reviews the epidemiology of these major retinal diseases with a focus on prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and associations, and highlights areas of need for further research.