Prevalence of age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degeneration among the inuit in Greenland. The Greenland Inuit Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To examine the age- and gender-specific prevalence and describe the common phenotype of early age-related maculopathy (ARM) and late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among the Inuit in Greenland. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: All > or =60-year-olds born in Greenland and living in the communities of Nuuk and Sisimiut, Greenland. METHODS: The presence and form of early (ARM) and late age-related macular disease (AMD) were determined by grading color fundus photographs using the international classification and grading system for ARM and AMD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalences of ARM and AMD were assessed by masked grading of fundus photographs. RESULTS: Overall, 695 persons were included in the study (response rate, 74.8%). Prevalence of any ARM was 52.3%. Age-related maculopathy was present in the worse eye in 50.0%, 58.8%, and 44.7% of age groups 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and > or =80, respectively. Prevalence of any AMD was 9.5%. Any AMD was present in the worse eye in 3.9%, 14.6%, and 43.2% of age groups 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and > or =80. Prevalences of pure geographic atrophy (GA) in one or both eyes, exudative degeneration in one or both eyes, and GA in one eye and exudative degeneration in the other eye were 2.3%, 6.1%, and 1.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ARM is higher than in most other populations studied, and the prevalence of AMD in the oldest age group is higher than in most other populations studied. The prevalence of exudative degeneration is higher than the prevalence of GA, in contrast to findings in some of the Nordic countries-particularly Iceland-and earlier observations in Greenland.

A new animal model of choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of different methods to induce choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the domestic pig. METHODS: A total of 26 Danish landrace pigs was used. A sample of 22 eyes in 12 pigs underwent retinal photocoagulation with a xenon lamp, six eyes in four pigs underwent retinal photocoagulation with a diode laser, and mechanical rupture of Bruch's membrane (BM) was induced in 12 pigs following surgical debridement of the retinal pigment epithelium without damage to the neuroretina. RESULTS: All 12 pigs (100%) in the group with mechanical rupture of BM developed CNV. The induced membranes were morphologically similar to CNV membranes in humans. Induced CNV was found in 13 of 22 (54%) xenon lamp-treated animals and in five of six (83%) diode laser-treated animals. The CNV in these groups was small and the morphology of the induced lesions was dominated by retinal gliosis and retinal neovascularization, probably due to a marked destruction of the neuroretina. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical debridement of the retinal pigment epithelium followed by mechanical rupture of BM is a reproducible method of producing CNV in the domestic pig, whereas photocoagulation gives rise to glially derived subretinal fibrovascular membranes and primarily retinal neovascularization.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy in Denmark: the current status.

PURPOSE: To investigate the current status of screening for diabetic retinopathy in Denmark, focussing on organization, methods of screening and regional differences. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent out in 2002 to 14 departments of ophthalmology and one ophthalmology practice, covering all 15 counties in Denmark. RESULTS: Six counties reported having systematic screening, defined as organized screening, including a database; three reported having plans for systematic screening; two reported having undetermined plans for systematic screening and four reported having no plans for systematic screening. In counties with systematic screening, both the organization and the method of screening varied. CONCLUSION: Approximately 43% of Danish patients with diabetes currently live in a county without systematic screening for diabetic retinopathy. Should all counties contemplating systematic screening implement their plans, this proportion will be reduced to approximately 17%.