Data from the Melton Mowbray Eye Study and Community Health Study have been used to look for possible risk factors for senile cataract and senile macular degeneration. Significant associations with senile cataract were age, female sex, myopia, social class and antihypertensive treatment, whilst for senile macular degeneration age and the absence of arcus senilis were significant. These observations are presented and discussed in relation to findings from other studies.