PREVALENCE OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AMONG THE ELDERLY IN A POPULATION BASED STUDY

Abstract

Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is emerging a leading cause of legal blindness in the elderly, overtaking glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. A recent study carried out in the Optometry Clinic of the University of Benin over a period of twenty four months, using a population sample of nine hundred and forty eight (948) geriatric patients, showed that the prevalence of AMD among the elderly in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State is 10.55%. This is statistically significant (p<0.05), presenting AMD as an emerging public health concern. The Macular Disease Society defined Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as ?a primary disease of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with secondary degenerative effect upon the overlying retina and underlying choroidal vessels.? It is a progressive disorder of the macula which leads to the gradual loss of central vision needed for reading, writing, driving, watching television, recognizing faces and doing other fine tasks. AMD is of two types, atrophic and exudative and it can be detected during eye examination. Presently, the only known cure for atrophic AMD apart from taking dietary supplements is prescribing low vision aids. For exudative AMD, the recent treatment regimens approved by National Eye Institute (NEI) in America apart from Photocoagulation and Photodynamic therapy are drugs known as Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF). Since the loss of central vision adversely affects one‘s life, early detection and adequate management of AMD in the elderly are the keys to preserving and improving the vision of elderly patients.