Prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) requires attention to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- High fat consumption
- A high dietary glycemic index is associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Consumption of stimulants
- Tobacco (smoking)
- AMD for smokers versus nonsmokers: odds ratios between 2.6 and 4.8
- Wet AMD occurs on average about 5 years earlier in smokers than in nonsmokers
- Tobacco (smoking)
- “Laser disco macula” as a result of damage caused by laser use in discotheques.
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).
- Radiation exposure – intense sunlight (UV-A and UV-B).
Prevention factors (protection factors)
- Genetic factors
- Genetic risk reduction depending on gene polymorphisms:
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Genes: C2, CFH, TLR3
- SNP: rs1061147 in the gene CFH
- Allele constellation: AC (0.97-fold).
- Allele constellation: CC (0.34-fold)
- SNP: rs3775291 in the gene TLR3
- Allele constellation: AG (0.71-fold for dry AMD).
- Allele constellation: AA (0.44-fold for dry AMD)
- SNP: rs9332739 in gene C2
- Allele constellation: CG (0.47-fold).
- Allele constellation: CC (0.47-fold)
- SNP: rs547154 in gene C2
- Allele constellation: AC (0.47-fold).
- Allele constellation: AA (0.47-fold)
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Genetic risk reduction depending on gene polymorphisms:
- UV protection 400 (US standard) and blue attenuation: any sunglasses as well as any other glasses should have UV protection 400 (US standard) and blue attenuation (400-500 nm) circa 95%. In Europe, however, “100% UV protection” is already valid at 380 nm, although the lens of the eye in this range still absorbs 78% of UV radiation!
