Causes & risk
Why does AMD happen?
There's no single cause. Age, genetics and lifetime wear on the retina all play a role — and so do things you can actually change, like smoking and diet.
Who is at risk
Risk factors you can't change
Age 50+
The single biggest risk factor. Most cases appear after 60; prevalence keeps rising with every decade.
3× risk
if a parent or sibling has AMD. Genetics matter — tell your eye doctor about your family history.
2–3× risk
for smokers — the strongest lifestyle-related risk factor. The good news: quitting lowers it over time.
Also associated with higher risk
- Light-coloured irises (more common in people of European descent)
- Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle
- Long-term diets low in vegetables, leafy greens and fish
What actually damages the macula
The macula burns through oxygen and has the highest metabolic load in the body. Over decades, oxidative stress, waste build-up (drusen) and low-grade inflammation damage its cells. Smoking shrinks the retina's blood supply and multiplies that damage — which is why it roughly triples the risk.
Prevention
What you can do today
Don't smoke — or stop. It's the strongest modifiable risk factor. Benefits start within years of quitting.
Eat for your retina. Leafy greens (spinach, kale), colourful vegetables, eggs, nuts and oily fish twice a week — the pattern behind the AREDS2 supplement studies.
Move and manage weight. Regular exercise lowers AMD risk as well as blood pressure and cholesterol.
Protect your heart. What's good for your arteries is good for your macula.
Get checked from age 50. A retinal photo is quick, painless and can see the disease before you can feel it.
