A simplified severity scale for age-related macular degeneration: AREDS Report No. 18

Arch Ophthalmol. 2005 Nov;123(11):1570-4. doi: 10.1001/archopht.123.11.1570.

Abstract

Objective: To develop a simplified clinical scale defining risk categories for development of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Following development of a detailed scale for individual eyes based on gradings of fundus photographs in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, rates of progression to advanced AMD were assessed in cross-tabulations of presence or absence in each eye of 2 easily identified retinal abnormalities, drusen and pigment abnormalities. Large drusen and any pigment changes were particularly predictive of developing advanced AMD.

Results: The scoring system developed for patients assigns to each eye 1 risk factor for the presence of 1 or more large (> or = 125 microm, width of a large vein at disc margin) drusen and 1 risk factor for the presence of any pigment abnormality. Risk factors are summed across both eyes, yielding a 5-step scale (0-4) on which the approximate 5-year risk of developing advanced AMD in at least one eye increases in this easily remembered sequence: 0 factors, 0.5%; 1 factor, 3%; 2 factors, 12%; 3 factors, 25%; and 4 factors, 50%. For persons with no large drusen, presence of intermediate drusen in both eyes is counted as 1 risk factor.

Conclusion: This simplified scale provides convenient risk categories for development of advanced AMD that can be determined by clinical examination or by less demanding photographic procedures than used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / classification*
  • Macular Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Macular Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Photography / methods
  • Retinal Drusen / classification
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / classification
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index*