Researchers have found a connection between height and development of age-related macular degeneration, according to a study presented at the 2019 ARVO meeting. The Korea-based research team reviewed the health records of 8,435 participants across the nation as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011. They evaluated the patients’ height as well as weight and body mass index (BMI) and determined the presence and severity of AMD using standard fundus photographs.

The investigators found that 4.75% of patients developed AMD. In multivariate-adjusted analyses, taller height was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of AMD, while BMI failed to show a statistical significance. An inverse association between height and risk of having AMD was observed, especially in participants younger than 65 years. Even among obese patients, height had an inverse association with AMD risk. A subgroup analysis by AMD type disclosed a significant inverse association of height with early AMD, but not with late AMD.