The relation of socioeconomic factors to the incidence of early age-related maculopathy: The Beaver Dam Eye Study

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy. METHODS: The Beaver Dam Eye Study, a population-based cohort study, examine d 3681 adults (range, 43-86 years of age at baseline) living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at baseline and 5 years later. Standardized protocols for physi cal examination, including administration of a questionnaire that inducted questions regarding income, education level, and status and type of employm ent, and fundus photography to determine age-related maculopathy, were perf ormed. RESULTS: While controlling for age and sex, less education, and being in a service-related occupation compared with a white collar professional occupa tion, was associated (P <.05) with the incidence of early age-related macul opathy, CONCLUSION: These data show an association of education and occupation but not income with the incidence of early age-related maculopathy that appears independent of smoking or vitamin supplement use status. (Am J Ophthalmol 2001;132:128-131. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).