• Smoking



• Age (3.8 percent or Americans either have intermediate or advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) between the ages of 50 – 59, and by the time people reach the ages of 70 – 79, this number increases to 14.4 percent)



• Gender (women appear to be at slightly higher risk)



• Obesity (research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD)



• Family history



• African Americans are much less likely to lose vision from AMD than Caucasians.



• There are also suggestions that visible and ultraviolet light may damage the retina, and that low consumption of fruits and vegetables, which contain certain antioxidants may potentially increase risk.

Some of the information in this section of our website was obtained from the National Eye Institute and the National Library of Medicine.

Reviewed on 2/14/2008