Prevalence of age related maculopathy in a representative Japanese population: the Hisayama study

Aim-To determine the prevalence of age related maculopathy (ARM) in a repre sentative older Japanese population. Methods-1486 residents of Hisayama town, Fukuoka, Japan, aged 50 years or o lder were examined and the presence of ARM was determined by grading from f undus examination by indirect ophthalmoscope, slit lamp, and colour fundus photographs. Results-The prevalence rate of drusen, which occurred with comparable frequ ency in men and women, was 9.6%. The frequency of drusen increased with age (p <0.01). Hyperpigmentation and/or hypopigmentation of the retina was pre sent in 3.2%, geographic atrophy in 0.2%, and neovascular age related macul ar degeneration in 0.67%. The frequency of neovascular age related macular degeneration was significantly higher in the men (1.2% v 0.34%, p <0.01). Conclusions-Early and late stage ARM is less common among Japanese people t han among white people in Western countries, while late stage ARM is more c ommon among Japanese than among black people.