Asthma does NOT increase likelihood of Macular Degeneration

A new study reveals that patients with lung diseases such as asthma do not have an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study is published in the February edition of the American Journal of Ophthalmolgy. The cross-sectional study involved of 12,596 participants between the ages of 46 and 70 years of age from four communities across the United States. Using a spirometer to evaluate lung function, the study group consisted of? 587 with early AMD, 638 had asthma and 581 had other lung diseases. Adjusting for gender, age, smoking and hypertension, the researchers discovered that early AMD was not associated with lung disease. Researchers did note that the study was limited by its cross-sectional design as well as the younger study participants who had a lower incidence of AMD.* Elise Ervin Staff Writer