Analysis of Data on Age-Related Macular Degeneration

ABSTRACT

Tabularly presented prevalence data published for black and white patients suffering from age-related maculopathy (ARM) were plotted logarithmically. In this form they show rectilinear functions for black, but not for white patients. The age courses of the log prevalences for Geographic Atrophy and Neovascular ARM differ significantly from those for Drusen for all patients. It is suggested that Drusen are a primeval risk factor for ARM, the other conditions resulting from the loss of melanin when early man migrated from Africa to more temperate climates.