Ocular Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

Fraser-Bell, Samantha; Choudhury, Farzana; Klein, Ronald; Azen, Stanley; Varma, Rohit; Los Angeles Latino Eye Study Group,

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2009.11.013

« Previous Next »American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 149, Issue 5 , Pages 735-740, May 2010

Ocular Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

Samantha Fraser-Bell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Farzana Choudhury
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Ronald Klein
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
Stanley Azen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Doheny Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Rohit Varma
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Doheny Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Inquiries to Rohit Varma, Doheny Eye Institute, Suite 4900, 1450 San Pablo St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Los Angeles Latino Eye Study Group
- Doheny Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Accepted 6 November 2009. published online 08 February 2010.

Purpose

To assess the association between ocular factors and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Latinos.

Design

Population-based, cross-sectional study of 6357 self-identified Latinos aged 40 years and older.

Methods

Ophthalmic examination included subjective refraction, measurement of axial length, evaluation of iris color, Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II) grading of cataracts, and stereoscopic macular photographs for AMD lesions. Generalized estimating equation analysis incorporated data from both eyes to estimate odds ratios (OR) adjusted for covariates.

Results

After controlling for confounders (age, gender, and smoking), prior cataract surgery was associated with advanced AMD (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.01, 7.8), increased retinal pigment (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.02, 1.5), and retinal pigment epithelial depigmentation (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1, 4.4). The presence of any lens opacity was associated with soft drusen (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.002, 1.5). Longer axial length (per mm) was associated with decreased odds of soft drusen, increased retinal pigment, and geographic atrophy (GA) (ORs, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.7, 0.9], 0.8 [95% CI, 0.7, 0.9], 0.7 [95% CI, 0.5, 0.9], respectively). Myopia was inversely associated with soft drusen (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7, 0.99). Lighter-colored irises were associated with GA (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.0, 25.3).

Conclusions

Cross-sectional associations of ocular factors such as cataract, cataract surgery, and refractive errors with early AMD lesions found in Latinos are consistent with those in non-Hispanic Whites. Additionally, prior cataract surgery was associated with advanced AMD.