Aim-A case-control study was initiated to determine the risk factors for the development of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods-Study 19).Conclusions-This large case-control study confirms some of the risk factors previously identified and may contribute to the determination of methods for prevention of AMD. (Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:996-1002) Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in people over 55 years of age in developed countries. The pathogenesis of this condition is still putative 1 and, in absence of therapy, there is a need to identify risk factors associated with AMD in an eVort to preclude its development.Following the Framingham Eye Study, 2 a number of epidemiological studies have attempted to identify risk factors for AMD. 2-23These studies, which were case-control and population based, have provided informative but controversial data. The goals of the present study were to further explore the possible link between environmental factors and systemic and ocular conditions that may be risk factors for AMD in a European population.Based upon previously published reports, we studied the following risk factors in a casecontrol study: present and past smoking habits, coronary artery disease, systemic hypertension, ametropia, iris colour, and lens status.

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ABSTRACT.Purpose: To evaluate known and potential risk factors, including nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors, differentiating patients with high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) from control subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods: In 2006 French ophthalmologists prospectively enrolled 339 cases of POAG and 339 age-matched controls with OHT. After a clinical examination with assessment of ocular risk factors, the ophthalmologist filled, during face-to-face interview, a detailed questionnaire developed by nutritionists and epidemiologist on lifestyle and environmental risk factors, including socio-demographic variables, dietary habits related to omega-3 fatty acids intake, smoking and alcohol drinking and professional exposure to pesticides and other chemicals. Associations of POAG with risk factors were estimated using conditional logistic regression, with adjustment for age, gender and duration of disease. Results: In the final multivariate model, by comparison with OHT, POAG was significantly associated with more frequent use of pesticides during the professional life [OR = 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-6.78, p = 0.04] and with low consumption of fatty fish (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.10-4.17, p = 0.02) and walnuts (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.18-3.47, p = 0.01). POAG was also associated with higher frequency of heavy smoking (40 pack-years or more, OR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.12-13.80, p = 0.03) but not with moderate (20-40 pack-years) and light smoking (<20 pack-years). Conclusions: These exploratory observations suggest a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids and a deleterious effect of heavy smoking and professional exposure to pesticides in POAG. This will need to be confirmed in future studies.

Similar BCVA gains were observed regardless of the presence of SRD. The higher visual gain usually observed in DME with SRD could be associated with a lower baseline BCVA.