Macular Degeneration Risk Research


New research shows that asian people may be more likely to develop age related macular degeneration as their caucasian counterparts. The news, published in the journal Ophthalmology, has sparked concern as up until now, asian people have though to have been at a lower risk of contracting the condition - the leading cause of blindness in elderly people worldwide.

Researchers reached their conclusions by studying the eye health of five asian populations. Scientists studied the eye health of people from Japan, China, South KOrea, India and Singapore. They found that asian men and women were almost just as likely to develop the eye disease early and were more likely to develop late 'wet'age related macular degenerations than their caucasian counterparts. The researchers also discovered that asian men were particularly at risk of developing the potentially blinding eye disease as they are thought to be at increased risk of forming abnormal blood vessels inside the eye.

Researchers hope that their findings will allow medical experts to better identify and diagnose the eye disease in asian patients who, before now, may not have been considered at risk of developing the condition. Researchers hope that better detection will help to safeguard the vision of thousands of asian people who may develop the progressive eye problem.

4th May 2010

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