Methodology of the Cardiovascular Health and Age-Related Maculopathy (CHARM) Study.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is responsible for the majority of visual impairment in the Western world. Epidemiological studies examining risk factors for AMD are needed to develop strategies for the prevention of blindness from this condition. A number of potentially modifiable risk factors for AMD have been identified; however, only smoking has been a consistent risk factor across the numerous studies. A growing body of evidence suggests that AMD and cardiovascular disease may have common risk factors. The Cardiovascular Health and Age Related Maculopathy (CHARM) Study was established to examine the risk factors for AMD and its progression, in particular risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Examining risk factors for prevalent AMD, cases with AMD were compared with age and gender matched controls with no AMD features. For the assessment of AMD progression, the study examined in 2001 and 2002 those participants with early AMD, or age-related maculopathy (ARM), who had undergone ...