5
As the term implies, age plays an important role in the pathogenesis
of ARMD as part of the aging process. People over the age of 50 may
develop the first signs of the disease which then slowly progresses
with age. By the age of 85, 25-50% of the population has ARMD of
some extent.
It is nowadays obvious that with the prolonged life expectancy, ARMD
is part of the natural aging process. Under these circumstances
all
factors that are known to speed up the aging process like smoking,
bad nutrition and lack of exercise also may speed up ARMD.
Genetic disposition
also seems to play an important role in the
development of ARMD with blood relatives of ARMD patients having
an increased chance of developing the disease even at an earlier age.
Who is in danger of ARMD?
MACULOPATHY AFFECTS CENTRAL
VISION AND NOT THE PERIPHERY
These problems can be addressed with the
Amsler chart
which can
be used for self-testing (a copy can be found at the end of this leaflet).
But by no means can this simple test be a substitute for a thorough
ophthalmic examination.
