Age-related differences in the prevalence of subtypes of Neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the first diagnosed eye.

Purpose: To evaluate age-related differences in the prevalence of subtypes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the first diagnosed eye.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 1099 eyes of 1099 patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD. The neovascular AMD cases were classified into three subtypes: typical neovascular AMD, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and type 3 neovascularization. The patients were divided into four groups, according to age: > 50 and < 60 years, ≥ 60 and < 70 years, ≥ 70 and < 80 years, and ≥ 80 years. Difference in the prevalence of three AMD subtypes was evaluated among the four age groups.

Results: In the age group > 50 and < 60 years, 34 (25.0%) and 102 patients (75.0%) were diagnosed with typical neovascular AMD and PCV, respectively. In the age group ≥ 60 and < 70 years, 90 (28.1%), 206 (64.4%), and 24 patients (7.5%) were diagnosed with typical neovascular AMD, PCV, and type 3 neovascularization, respectively. In the age group ≥ 70 and < 80 years, the corresponding numbers were 200 (41.9%), 197 (41.3%), and 80 (16.8%), respectively; in the age group ≥80 years, the corresponding values were 83 (50.0%), 39 (23.5%), and 44 (26.5%), respectively. A significant difference was observed in the prevalence of the subtypes of neovascular AMD among the four age groups (chi-square test, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Subtype prevalence in newly diagnosed neovascular AMD differs significantly according to age. This result suggests that different pathophysiology may be involved in the development of different subtypes of neovascular AMD.