GITNUXREPORT 2026

Macular Degeneration Statistics

A common eye disease called macular degeneration causes severe vision loss worldwide.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

The most common early symptom of AMD is drusen formation, appearing as yellow deposits under the retina visible on fundus exam.

Statistic 2

Patients with dry AMD often experience gradual central vision loss, with straight lines appearing wavy (metamorphopsia).

Statistic 3

Wet AMD causes sudden vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization leaking fluid, affecting 10-15% of cases.

Statistic 4

Geographic atrophy in late dry AMD leads to irreversible blind spots in central vision, sparing peripheral sight.

Statistic 5

Scotomas (blind spots) in AMD typically start small in the center and enlarge over time.

Statistic 6

Color vision deficiency occurs in 20-30% of advanced AMD patients due to photoreceptor loss.

Statistic 7

Difficulty reading or recognizing faces is reported in 85% of late AMD cases.

Statistic 8

Parafoveal sparing in early AMD allows patients to use eccentric vision initially.

Statistic 9

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy is a hallmark of dry AMD progression.

Statistic 10

Neovascular membranes in wet AMD can cause subretinal hemorrhage, distorting vision rapidly.

Statistic 11

Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation around drusen indicate intermediate AMD.

Statistic 12

Visual acuity drops below 20/200 in 20% of untreated wet AMD eyes within 2 years.

Statistic 13

Contrast sensitivity loss precedes acuity decline in 70% of early AMD cases.

Statistic 14

Photopsia (flashing lights) occurs in 15% of wet AMD patients due to CNV activity.

Statistic 15

Bilateral involvement happens in 80% of AMD cases, often asymmetrically.

Statistic 16

Drusen size >125 microns predicts higher progression risk to late AMD.

Statistic 17

Fundus autofluorescence shows hypoautofluorescence in GA lesions.

Statistic 18

Microperimetry reveals absolute scotoma expansion at 1.6mm²/year in GA.

Statistic 19

Amsler grid testing detects metamorphopsia in 50% of early AMD patients.

Statistic 20

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) identifies subretinal fluid in 90% of wet AMD cases.

Statistic 21

Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) confirms CNV leakage in wet AMD diagnosis.

Statistic 22

AREDS simplified severity scale stages AMD risk from 0 (lowest) to 4 (highest).

Statistic 23

Color fundus photography detects large drusen (>125μm) with 85% sensitivity.

Statistic 24

Indocyanine green angiography visualizes occult CNV in 70% of cases missed by FFA.

Statistic 25

OCT angiography (OCTA) non-invasively detects CNV with 97% sensitivity without dye.

Statistic 26

Visual field testing shows central field loss >5dB in early AMD screening.

Statistic 27

Dark adaptometry reveals prolonged rod recovery time (>6.5 min) in AMD suspects.

Statistic 28

Genetic testing for CFH Y402H variant predicts AMD risk with OR 7.4 for homozygotes.

Statistic 29

Annual screening recommended for those over 65 or with family history per AAO guidelines.

Statistic 30

Multiluminance flicker perimetry detects early functional loss in 80% of intermediate AMD.

Statistic 31

Retinal hyperspectral imaging identifies drusen composition preclinically.

Statistic 32

AI-based OCT analysis predicts progression with 90% accuracy in 2 years.

Statistic 33

Slit-lamp biomicroscopy reveals RPE changes in 60% of at-risk patients.

Statistic 34

Electroretinography (ERG) shows mfERG amplitude reduction in foveal AMD.

Statistic 35

Near-infrared reflectance imaging highlights GA borders accurately.

Statistic 36

Low-luminance visual acuity testing worsens VA by 0.3 logMAR in early AMD.

Statistic 37

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects nearly 11 million people in the United States, making it the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness among adults aged 50 and older.

Statistic 38

Globally, AMD impacts approximately 196 million individuals as of 2020, with projections estimating an increase to 287.8 million by 2040 due to aging populations.

Statistic 39

In the US, about 1.7% of individuals aged 40 and older have late AMD, rising to 12.4% in those over 80 years old.

Statistic 40

Non-Hispanic White Americans have the highest prevalence of AMD at 9.7% among those aged 40+, compared to 2.3% in non-Hispanic Blacks.

Statistic 41

Early AMD prevalence in Europe is around 3.5% in people under 50, increasing to 12.1% in those over 80.

Statistic 42

In Australia, AMD affects 1 in 7 people over 50, with late-stage disease in 1 in 25.

Statistic 43

The incidence of late AMD over 10 years is 2.1% in those aged 55-64, escalating to 13.5% in those over 85.

Statistic 44

Women have a slightly higher lifetime risk of developing late AMD (8.8%) compared to men (7.8%).

Statistic 45

In China, the prevalence of any AMD is 6.8% in those over 50, with early AMD at 6.5% and late at 0.3%.

Statistic 46

AMD accounts for 8.7% of all blindness worldwide and 50% in developed countries among those over 55.

Statistic 47

In the UK, over 700,000 people live with sight loss from AMD, expected to rise to 2.1 million by 2050.

Statistic 48

The prevalence of geographic atrophy (GA), a form of late dry AMD, is 0.36% in the US population aged 50+.

Statistic 49

Neovascular AMD prevalence is higher in Asians (0.21%) than in Whites (0.17%) or Blacks (0.10%).

Statistic 50

In India, AMD prevalence is 1.1% overall, but reaches 4.7% in those over 70.

Statistic 51

Lifetime risk of late AMD in the US is 3.2% for early ARM progressors.

Statistic 52

Smoking doubles the risk of developing late AMD, with current smokers having a 3-4 times higher risk than never smokers.

Statistic 53

Age is the strongest risk factor, with risk increasing exponentially after 60, and 30% of those over 75 showing signs.

Statistic 54

Family history increases AMD risk by 2.5 to 4.5 times if a close relative is affected.

Statistic 55

Caucasian ethnicity confers the highest risk, with Whites 3-5 times more likely than African Americans.

Statistic 56

Obesity raises late AMD risk by 2.2 times compared to normal weight individuals.

Statistic 57

Hypertension increases AMD risk by 1.4 to 2.0 fold, particularly early AMD.

Statistic 58

High dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids reduces AMD risk by up to 41%.

Statistic 59

Low antioxidant levels (vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc) increase late AMD odds by 25%.

Statistic 60

Cardiovascular disease history raises AMD prevalence by 1.5-2 times.

Statistic 61

Prolonged exposure to blue light from screens may increase oxidative stress, elevating AMD risk by 20-30%.

Statistic 62

Hyperlipidemia correlates with a 1.3-fold increase in early AMD.

Statistic 63

Female gender slightly elevates risk due to longer lifespan and hormonal factors, with OR of 1.2.

Statistic 64

Chronic kidney disease patients have 2-3 times higher AMD prevalence.

Statistic 65

UV light exposure increases risk by damaging retinal pigment epithelium, with OR 1.5 for high exposure.

Statistic 66

Diabetes mellitus type 2 associates with 1.4-fold higher neovascular AMD risk.

Statistic 67

Anti-VEGF injections like ranibizumab improve vision by 2+ lines in 90% of wet AMD patients over 2 years.

Statistic 68

AREDS2 formula reduces progression to late AMD by 25% in intermediate cases over 5 years.

Statistic 69

Pegcetacoplan slows GA growth by 29% over 12 months in phase 3 trials.

Statistic 70

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin stabilizes vision in 60% of occult CNV cases.

Statistic 71

Laser photocoagulation reduces severe vision loss risk by 50% in classic CNV AMD.

Statistic 72

Aflibercept achieves 95% maintenance of vision (losing <15 letters) at 52 weeks.

Statistic 73

Smoking cessation lowers progression risk by 40% within 5 years post-quitting.

Statistic 74

Low vision rehab improves quality of life scores by 20-30% in AMD patients.

Statistic 75

Bevacizumab (off-label) matches ranibizumab efficacy at lower cost, with 90% stability.

Statistic 76

Gene therapy trials (RGX-314) reduce injection need by 80% over 2 years.

Statistic 77

Stem cell transplants restore RPE in preclinical models, with 70% graft survival.

Statistic 78

Untreated wet AMD leads to legal blindness in 25% of eyes within 2 years.

Statistic 79

AREDS supplements halve neovascular AMD risk in high-risk groups.

Statistic 80

Brolucizumab shows 43% GA reduction risk vs aflibercept at 96 weeks.

Statistic 81

GA untreated expands at 1.66 mm²/year, causing 20/200 VA in 50% over 5 years.

Statistic 82

Faricimab extends injection intervals to 16 weeks in 45% of patients.

1/82

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While millions enjoy a sunset's vibrant colors, a staggering 196 million people worldwide are facing its slow disappearance due to age-related macular degeneration, a silent epidemic stealing central vision.

Key Takeaways

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects nearly 11 million people in the United States, making it the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness among adults aged 50 and older.
Globally, AMD impacts approximately 196 million individuals as of 2020, with projections estimating an increase to 287.8 million by 2040 due to aging populations.
In the US, about 1.7% of individuals aged 40 and older have late AMD, rising to 12.4% in those over 80 years old.
Smoking doubles the risk of developing late AMD, with current smokers having a 3-4 times higher risk than never smokers.
Age is the strongest risk factor, with risk increasing exponentially after 60, and 30% of those over 75 showing signs.
Family history increases AMD risk by 2.5 to 4.5 times if a close relative is affected.
The most common early symptom of AMD is drusen formation, appearing as yellow deposits under the retina visible on fundus exam.
Patients with dry AMD often experience gradual central vision loss, with straight lines appearing wavy (metamorphopsia).
Wet AMD causes sudden vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization leaking fluid, affecting 10-15% of cases.
Amsler grid testing detects metamorphopsia in 50% of early AMD patients.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) identifies subretinal fluid in 90% of wet AMD cases.
Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) confirms CNV leakage in wet AMD diagnosis.
Anti-VEGF injections like ranibizumab improve vision by 2+ lines in 90% of wet AMD patients over 2 years.
AREDS2 formula reduces progression to late AMD by 25% in intermediate cases over 5 years.
Pegcetacoplan slows GA growth by 29% over 12 months in phase 3 trials.

A common eye disease called macular degeneration causes severe vision loss worldwide.

Clinical Features

The most common early symptom of AMD is drusen formation, appearing as yellow deposits under the retina visible on fundus exam.
Patients with dry AMD often experience gradual central vision loss, with straight lines appearing wavy (metamorphopsia).
Wet AMD causes sudden vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization leaking fluid, affecting 10-15% of cases.
Geographic atrophy in late dry AMD leads to irreversible blind spots in central vision, sparing peripheral sight.
Scotomas (blind spots) in AMD typically start small in the center and enlarge over time.
Color vision deficiency occurs in 20-30% of advanced AMD patients due to photoreceptor loss.
Difficulty reading or recognizing faces is reported in 85% of late AMD cases.
Parafoveal sparing in early AMD allows patients to use eccentric vision initially.
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy is a hallmark of dry AMD progression.
Neovascular membranes in wet AMD can cause subretinal hemorrhage, distorting vision rapidly.
Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation around drusen indicate intermediate AMD.
Visual acuity drops below 20/200 in 20% of untreated wet AMD eyes within 2 years.
Contrast sensitivity loss precedes acuity decline in 70% of early AMD cases.
Photopsia (flashing lights) occurs in 15% of wet AMD patients due to CNV activity.
Bilateral involvement happens in 80% of AMD cases, often asymmetrically.
Drusen size >125 microns predicts higher progression risk to late AMD.
Fundus autofluorescence shows hypoautofluorescence in GA lesions.
Microperimetry reveals absolute scotoma expansion at 1.6mm²/year in GA.

Clinical Features Interpretation

It's a relentless, two-pronged assault on your central vision where the 'dry' form slowly starves your sight cell by cell, while the 'wet' version stages a messy, vascular coup that can blind in months if left unchecked.

Diagnosis and Screening

Amsler grid testing detects metamorphopsia in 50% of early AMD patients.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) identifies subretinal fluid in 90% of wet AMD cases.
Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) confirms CNV leakage in wet AMD diagnosis.
AREDS simplified severity scale stages AMD risk from 0 (lowest) to 4 (highest).
Color fundus photography detects large drusen (>125μm) with 85% sensitivity.
Indocyanine green angiography visualizes occult CNV in 70% of cases missed by FFA.
OCT angiography (OCTA) non-invasively detects CNV with 97% sensitivity without dye.
Visual field testing shows central field loss >5dB in early AMD screening.
Dark adaptometry reveals prolonged rod recovery time (>6.5 min) in AMD suspects.
Genetic testing for CFH Y402H variant predicts AMD risk with OR 7.4 for homozygotes.
Annual screening recommended for those over 65 or with family history per AAO guidelines.
Multiluminance flicker perimetry detects early functional loss in 80% of intermediate AMD.
Retinal hyperspectral imaging identifies drusen composition preclinically.
AI-based OCT analysis predicts progression with 90% accuracy in 2 years.
Slit-lamp biomicroscopy reveals RPE changes in 60% of at-risk patients.
Electroretinography (ERG) shows mfERG amplitude reduction in foveal AMD.
Near-infrared reflectance imaging highlights GA borders accurately.
Low-luminance visual acuity testing worsens VA by 0.3 logMAR in early AMD.

Diagnosis and Screening Interpretation

Modern macular degeneration diagnosis is a technological detective story where sophisticated tools like OCT and AI now spot subtle retinal betrayals long before patients notice their vision slipping away.

Epidemiology

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects nearly 11 million people in the United States, making it the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness among adults aged 50 and older.
Globally, AMD impacts approximately 196 million individuals as of 2020, with projections estimating an increase to 287.8 million by 2040 due to aging populations.
In the US, about 1.7% of individuals aged 40 and older have late AMD, rising to 12.4% in those over 80 years old.
Non-Hispanic White Americans have the highest prevalence of AMD at 9.7% among those aged 40+, compared to 2.3% in non-Hispanic Blacks.
Early AMD prevalence in Europe is around 3.5% in people under 50, increasing to 12.1% in those over 80.
In Australia, AMD affects 1 in 7 people over 50, with late-stage disease in 1 in 25.
The incidence of late AMD over 10 years is 2.1% in those aged 55-64, escalating to 13.5% in those over 85.
Women have a slightly higher lifetime risk of developing late AMD (8.8%) compared to men (7.8%).
In China, the prevalence of any AMD is 6.8% in those over 50, with early AMD at 6.5% and late at 0.3%.
AMD accounts for 8.7% of all blindness worldwide and 50% in developed countries among those over 55.
In the UK, over 700,000 people live with sight loss from AMD, expected to rise to 2.1 million by 2050.
The prevalence of geographic atrophy (GA), a form of late dry AMD, is 0.36% in the US population aged 50+.
Neovascular AMD prevalence is higher in Asians (0.21%) than in Whites (0.17%) or Blacks (0.10%).
In India, AMD prevalence is 1.1% overall, but reaches 4.7% in those over 70.
Lifetime risk of late AMD in the US is 3.2% for early ARM progressors.

Epidemiology Interpretation

While it may start as a blurry inconvenience, age-related macular degeneration demonstrates a grim and predictable calculus: the older you get, the more likely you are to win its cruel lottery, which is quietly cashing in the sight of millions worldwide as our populations gray.

Risk Factors

Smoking doubles the risk of developing late AMD, with current smokers having a 3-4 times higher risk than never smokers.
Age is the strongest risk factor, with risk increasing exponentially after 60, and 30% of those over 75 showing signs.
Family history increases AMD risk by 2.5 to 4.5 times if a close relative is affected.
Caucasian ethnicity confers the highest risk, with Whites 3-5 times more likely than African Americans.
Obesity raises late AMD risk by 2.2 times compared to normal weight individuals.
Hypertension increases AMD risk by 1.4 to 2.0 fold, particularly early AMD.
High dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids reduces AMD risk by up to 41%.
Low antioxidant levels (vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc) increase late AMD odds by 25%.
Cardiovascular disease history raises AMD prevalence by 1.5-2 times.
Prolonged exposure to blue light from screens may increase oxidative stress, elevating AMD risk by 20-30%.
Hyperlipidemia correlates with a 1.3-fold increase in early AMD.
Female gender slightly elevates risk due to longer lifespan and hormonal factors, with OR of 1.2.
Chronic kidney disease patients have 2-3 times higher AMD prevalence.
UV light exposure increases risk by damaging retinal pigment epithelium, with OR 1.5 for high exposure.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 associates with 1.4-fold higher neovascular AMD risk.

Risk Factors Interpretation

While your genes and birthday set the stage, your daily choices—like tossing the cigarettes, swapping fries for fish, and getting off the couch—are the lead actors in the drama of whether you'll develop macular degeneration.

Treatment and Prognosis

Anti-VEGF injections like ranibizumab improve vision by 2+ lines in 90% of wet AMD patients over 2 years.
AREDS2 formula reduces progression to late AMD by 25% in intermediate cases over 5 years.
Pegcetacoplan slows GA growth by 29% over 12 months in phase 3 trials.
Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin stabilizes vision in 60% of occult CNV cases.
Laser photocoagulation reduces severe vision loss risk by 50% in classic CNV AMD.
Aflibercept achieves 95% maintenance of vision (losing <15 letters) at 52 weeks.
Smoking cessation lowers progression risk by 40% within 5 years post-quitting.
Low vision rehab improves quality of life scores by 20-30% in AMD patients.
Bevacizumab (off-label) matches ranibizumab efficacy at lower cost, with 90% stability.
Gene therapy trials (RGX-314) reduce injection need by 80% over 2 years.
Stem cell transplants restore RPE in preclinical models, with 70% graft survival.
Untreated wet AMD leads to legal blindness in 25% of eyes within 2 years.
AREDS supplements halve neovascular AMD risk in high-risk groups.
Brolucizumab shows 43% GA reduction risk vs aflibercept at 96 weeks.
GA untreated expands at 1.66 mm²/year, causing 20/200 VA in 50% over 5 years.
Faricimab extends injection intervals to 16 weeks in 45% of patients.

Treatment and Prognosis Interpretation

While modern medicine has assembled an impressive arsenal to battle macular degeneration—from needles that rescue sight to vitamins that stall its march—the most powerful weapon remains the stubborn, smoke-free determination of the patient holding the line.

Sources & References

Reference 26
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