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 <60years, 34 (25.0%) and 102 patients (75.0%) were diagnosed with typical neovascular AMD and PCV, respectively. In the age group 60 and <70years, 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 <80years, the corresponding numbers were 200 (41.9%), 197 (41.3%), and 80 (16.8%), respectively; in the age group 80years, 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.