Macular Degeneration: Risk Factors

Risk Increases with Age

AMD is most common in older people, but it can occur during middle age. The risk increases with age.

Other Risk Factors

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Race. Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than African-Americans.
• Family history. People with a family history of AMD are at higher risk of getting the disease.
• Gender. Women appear to be at greater risk than men.