Epidemiology of age-related-macular-degeneration in north of France

Purpose As the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries, AMD is an increasing public health problem. An early detection is important to provide prevention or treatment. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of AMD in the North of France by a mass screening facility with a non-mydriatic retinal camera, and to identify risk factors of the disease. Methods This is an epidemiological study performed in the North French department for a period of 6 months. Fundus photographs of both eyes were taken in a population aged 65 years and older with no known history of AMD. Images were analyzed by two independent readers in our Department for grading pictures along to the AREDS classification. Each participant answered a questionnaire about their medical and family history, and alcohol and tobacco, fruit, vegetables, and fish consumption respectively. Results Photographs from 2,240 eyes of 1,130 participants were analyzed. The average age in the cohort was 75 years. 13% of pictures were ungradable. 68.88 % of patients were assessed in category 1, 9.56 % in category 2, 1.44 % in category 3, and 5.56 % in category 4 (exudative or atrophic), respectively. Age was significantly associated with the disease (p<0.0001), fruits and vegetables consumption was a significant protective factor (p=0.002). Conclusion The prevalence of AMD is found similar than in the EUREYE epidemiological study (8% of AMD after 50 years old, more than 30% after 75 years old). In our cohort, the overall prevalence of AMD is 24% in the population over 65 years old. Nonmydriatic fundus photography is a simple, fast, non-invasive and reliable AMD-detecting technique that can be performed by nonphysicians then teletransfered to an ophthalmologist for reading.