Prevalence and visual consequences of macular changes in a population aged 70 years and older

In a population based study on 500 persons aged 70 years and older, photographic and/or ophthalmoscopic evaluation of the macula at least in one eye was possible for 478 persons (96%). No macular pathology in either eye was observed in 46%, signs of age-related maculopathy in one eye or both eyes occurred in 41% and other pathology in 16%. Early age-related maculopathy was diagnosed in 32%, geographic atrophy in 4.4% and disciform degeneration in 3.8%. Geographic atrophy was most common in persons aged 90 years and older (36%), and the highest prevalence of disciform degeneration was found in the age group of 85-89 years (17%). Of the 155 eyes with low vision or blindness and visible fundus, early age-related maculopathy was found in 35%, geographic atrophy occurred in 14% and disciform degeneration in 14%. Age-related maculopathy was considered the main cause for low vision and blindness in 4.7% of the 468 persons in whom visual acuity and information on fundus could be obtained, and in 3.6% it was one of the causes, usually together with cataract. The other macular disorders caused 1.5% of low vision and blindness.