5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy in the Reykjavik Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the age- and gender-specific 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in citizens of Reykjavik.


METHODS
Population-based, prospective cohort study.


METHODS
The cohort was a population-based random sample of citizens 50 years and older. Of 1379 eligible subjects, 1045 had a baseline examination in 1996; 846 of the 958 survivors (88.2%) had a 5-year follow-up examination in 2001.


METHODS
The incidence of various characteristics of drusen and pigmentary changes that are typical of ARM were determined using the international classification and grading system for ARM and AMD.


METHODS
Early ARM and AMD were assessed by masked grading of stereo fundus photographs.


RESULTS
Hypopigmentation developed at 5 years in 10.7% of people 50 to 59 years of age (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.9-14.4) and in 25.7% those 70 to 79 years of age (95% CI, 18.4-33.0) at baseline. Age-related macular degeneration developed in no one who was 50 to 59 years of age at baseline. Geographic atrophy (GA) developed in 4.6% (95% CI, 1.2-7.9) and exudative AMD in none of those who were 70 years and older at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Geographic atrophy is the predominant type of AMD in Iceland, and the ratio of GA to neovascular AMD is higher than in racially similar populations.
Jonasson
Fridbert
F
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. fridbert@landspitali.is <fridbert@landspitali.is>
Arnarsson
Arsaell
A
Peto
Tunde
T
Sasaki
Hiroshi
H
Sasaki
Kazuyuki
K
Bird
Alan C
AC
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution