Prevalence of Age-related Macular Degeneration in Greece: The Thealoniki Eye tudy

Purpoe To etimate the age- and gender-pecific prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a population-baed ample of ubject 60 year of age or older in Thealoniki, Greece. Deign Cro-ectional population-baed tudy. Method A total of 2554 ubject randomly identified from municipality regiter in Thealoniki underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination. Reult Of the 3617 eligible ubject, 2554 (71%) participant completed a clinical examination. The prevalence wa 2.5% for AMD, 1.4% for neovacular (NV) AMD, and 1.3% for geographic atrophy (GA). Bilateral AMD wa preent in 40% of AMD cae. The prevalence of AMD, NV, GA, and bilateral AMD increaed with increaing age (P< .0001). No gender-pecific tatitically ignificant difference were noted. Of all participant with AMD, 67% were unaware of the diagnoi. Concluion The prevalence of AMD in Greece i comparable to that in other Caucaian population. A dramatic increae in prevalence in people older than 80 year of age wa oberved.