title: Decreasing stromal iris pigmentation as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: To evaluate iris color, change of iris color, and iris pigment epithelial defects as risk factors in age-related macular degeneration, we compared 101 patients with age-related macular changes with 102 control subjects in a case-control study. Three of 101 patients (3%) and four of 102 control subjects (4%) had epithelial iris defects. Light iris color during youth was reported by 51 of 101 patients (50.5%) and 42 of 102 control subjects (41.2%) (odds ratio, 1.46; P = .184). Of the 101 patients, 26 (25.7%) noticed their iris color to have become lighter during life compared with six of 102 control subjects (5.9%) (odds ratio, 5.5; P = .0001). At present examination, 63 of 101 patients (62.4%) had light irides compared with 43 of 102 control subjects (42.2%) (odds ratio, 2.27; P = .004). These results suggest that initial light iris color and iris pigment epithelial defects are not associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration, whereas decreased stromal iris pigmentation may indicate a higher risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Preventive Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Holz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piguet
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Minassian
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007499:Iris Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors