Asians are as susceptible as Caucasians to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common eye disorder, but ‘ bypass’ laser surgery can help, according to a study published in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The journal also describes the innovative "bypass" laser surgery that may help many people with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) avoid serious vision loss.
AMD is more common in women, blue-eyed Caucasians, patients with increased blood pressure and high cholesterol. According to statistics it is found that 30% of Canadians between the ages of 55 and 74 have some degree of macular degeneration while more than 40% of people 75 years and older have some degree of macular degeneration. The macula is a light sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye in the central area of the retina. This allows seeing the finer details such as recognizing faces, words in a book or images.
Asians have long been considered a low risk group for AMD, which is a leading cause of vision loss in older Caucasians. Since the number of elderly people is increasing in Asia, a major review by Tien Yi Wong, MD, MPH, PhD, and Singapore Eye Research Institute colleagues suggests that health systems there need to prepare for an onslaught of AMD.
Pooling results from nine standardized-diagnosis studies in five Asian populations (Japan, China, South Korea, India and Singapore), Dr. Wong’s group confirmed prevalence of early-stage AMD as 6.8 percent and late-stage as 0.56 percent, comparable to Caucasians at 8.8 percent and 0.59 percent, respectively. All rates pertain to people aged 40 to 79 years. Also, among those with late AMD, the "wet" (neovascular) form appeared to be more prevalent in Asians than in whites. Asian men were more likely to develop late AMD than white men and much more likely than Asian women.
