Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To describe cumulative incidence and changes in lesions associated with age–related maculopathy (ARM) by location over a 10–year period and examine the relation of location to progression of ARM. Methods: Persons ranging in age from 43 to 84 years and living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at the time of a census (1987–1988) were examined over a ten year period (n=3684). Drusen area, size and type, RPE depigmentation, increased pigment, geographic atrophy, and exudative macular degeneration were determined in each of nine macular subfields: central, inner and outer superior, inner and outer nasal, inner and outer inferior and inner and outer temporal by masked grading of stereoscopic color fundus photographs. Results: Lesions were more likely to change or develop in specific locations. Drusen area increased most in the central circle. Compared to other quadrants, drusen greater than 125 microns in diameter and soft indistinct or reticular drusen was most likely to develop in the superior or temporal quadrants, whereas pigmentary abnormalities were most likely to occur in the nasal or superior quadrants. In general, large drusen, soft indistinct drusen and pigmentary abnormalities were more likely to develop in the inner circle versus the central and outer circles. The quadrant location of early ARM lesions in 72 persons that developed late ARM was generally similar to persons that did not develop late ARM. However, persons that developed late ARM were more likely to have large drusen in the inner circle than the outer circle, while those who did not develop late ARM were more likely to have large drusen in the outer circle. Conclusions: Lesions associated with early ARM were more likely to develop in specific locations in the macular area and eyes with lesions closer to the fovea may be at a higher risk of developing late ARM. The quadrant location of early ARM lesions does not appear to add additional information to the risk of developing late ARM.
Keywords: age–related macular degeneration