TY - JOUR AU - Thapa, R AU - Paudyal, G AU - Shrestha, M K AU - Gurung, R AU - Ruit, S PY - 2012/06/11 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Nepal JF - Kathmandu University Medical Journal JA - Kathmandu Univ. Med. J. VL - 9 IS - 3 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.3126/kumj.v9i3.6298 UR - https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/KUMJ/article/view/6298 SP - 165-169 AB - <p class="Pa10"><strong>Background</strong></p> <p class="Pa10">The Age–related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide in elderly.</p> <p class="Pa17"><strong>Objective</strong></p> <p class="Pa17">This study aimed to explore the demographic characteristics, pattern and risk factors for AMD at a tertiary referral eye centre in Nepal.</p> <p class="Pa10"><strong>Methods</strong></p> <p class="Pa10">This is a hospital-based prospective study, conducted at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Nepal from September 2008 to May 2009. All the consecutive cases of AMD diagnosed at the institute were included.</p> <p class="Pa10"><strong>Results</strong></p> <p class="Pa10">A total of 141 patients (266 eyes) with AMD recruited for the study. The mean age was 69.5 years (9.1SD) with three fifth males (58.9%). Housewives and occupations like agriculture comprised of 38.3% and 42.5% respectively. Three fourth (75.6%) of the patients were illiterate. The proportion of dry and wet AMD were found in 62.4% and 37.6% respectively. Bilateral involvement was seen in 88.7% of the subjects. Three fourth (71.4%) of the AMD eyes had presenting visual acuity less than 6/18. History of smoking was found in 69.9% of patients. Hypertension was the predominant systemic problem (45.4%) followed by diabetes mellitus (12.8%).</p> <p class="Pa10"><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p class="Pa10">AMD is correlated with ageing in our study as well. Dry AMD is more in age groups 45-64 years and wet AMD at 65 years and older. Bilateral involvement with one eye dry and fellow eye wet AMD is more predominant (44%). Smoking and occupations like agriculture and housewife are significant risk factors for AMD. Likewise male sex, illiteracy and hypertension are other risk factors for AMD in hospital settings.</p><p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v9i3.6298">http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v9i3.6298</a></p> <p><em>Kathmandu Univ Med J</em> 2011;9(3):165-9</p><p class="Pa10"> </p> ER -