Alcohol intake and age-related maculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess associations between alcohol intake and age-related maculopathy.


METHODS
A population-based study of 3,654 subjects identified cases of late age-related macular degeneration, early age-related maculopathy, and any large drusen (larger than 125 microns) by examination and grading of retinal photographs. Interviewer-administered questionnaires provided data on alcohol intake.


RESULTS
Neither total alcohol intake nor intake of beer specifically was significantly associated with age-related maculopathy, although a significant positive association was found between consumption of spirits and early age-related maculopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide little evidence that alcohol is causally associated with age-related maculopathy.
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia.
W
W
Smith
P
P
Mitchell
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires