A new study from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai demonstrates that patients with a specific form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may have either underlying heart damage from heart failure and heart attacks, or advanced heart valve disease, or carotid artery disease associated with certain types of strokes.
The findings, “Subretinal drusenoid deposits are strongly associated with coexistent high-risk vascular disease,” published in the journal BMJ Open Ophthalmology, are the first to identify which types of high-risk cardiovascular and carotid artery disease are linked to the eye disorder. The new study could prompt increased screening to save vision, diagnose undetected heart disease, and prevent adverse cardiovascular events.
