PREVALENCE OF VITREOMACULAR ADHESION IN PATIENTS WITHOUT MACULOPATHY OLDER THAN 40 YEARS

• Published in: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 38; no. 10; pp. 2056 - 2063
• Main Authors: Rodman, Julie A, Shechtman, Diana, Sutton, Brad M, Pizzimenti, Joseph J, Bittner, Ava K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Retinal Diseases - epidemiology; Retinal Diseases - pathology; Risk Factors; Tissue Adhesions; United States - epidemiology; Vitreous Body - pathology; Vitreous Detachment - pathology; United States
• DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000001792
• EISSN: 1539-2864
• ISSN: 0275-004X

To determine the prevalence and factors influencing vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) or vitreomacular traction (VMT) in subjects without maculopathy older than age 40 years.
In a prospective cross-sectional study, 1,950 eyes in 1,090 participants aged 40 to 89 years representing various ethnic groups from 14 centers in the United States underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including spectral domain optical coherence tomography. A team of independent, masked readers classified the presence or absence of VMA/VMT on spectral domain optical coherence tomography based on the International Vitreomacular Traction Study Group rubric.
Across all eyes, the prevalence of VMA or VMT was 39% or 1%, respectively. For every 1-year increase in age, there was a statistically significant 7% decreased odds of having VMA or VMT (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89-0.96; P < 0.001), whereas African Americans had 55% significantly reduced odds of having VMA or VMT when than whites (95% CI: 0.23-0.90; P = 0.025). Vitreomacular adhesion >1,500 μm was significantly more likely than VMA <1,500 μm in younger adults (95% CI: 0.70-0.86; P < 0.001), hyperopes versus emmetropes (95% CI: 1.49-35.9; P = 0.01), primary eye care versus tertiary practices (95% CI: 0.03-0.92; P = 0.04), and patients without hyperlipidemia (95% CI: 0.04-0.83; P = 0.03).
Vitreomacular adhesion is highly prevalent among middle-aged adults. Diagnostic screening with spectral domain optical coherence tomography may help to accurately detect VMA or VMT, prompting routine monitoring and timely therapeutic intervention.