Risk Factors

• 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)

• Family history

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

• 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.

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