Long-Term Follow-Up of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients

Purpose: To assess the progression rate from dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD) to advanced AMD and possible risk factors. Methods: Demographics, medical and ocular conditions, baseline eye examinations, optical coherence tomography features, and progression rates to advanced AMD were collected. Results: We included 74 eyes from 47 dAMD patients, with a mean age of 74.58 ± 8.29 years and 38.30% males. During a follow-up period of 8.9 ± 0.4 years, 40 eyes (54.05%) progressed to advanced AMD, with 25 eyes (33.78%) developing neovascular AMD (nAMD) and 22 eyes (29.72%) progressing to geographic atrophy (GA). Patients progressing to advanced AMD were older (77.8 ± 6.5 vs. 73.8 ± 9.5, P = 0.03). A higher incidence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) was noted in progressing eyes (32.5% vs. 8.8%, P = 0.01), along with thinner baseline central macular thickness (CMT) (247.93 ± 32.55 vs. 268.67 ± 16.75, P = 0.007). Smokers with OAG had a higher tendency to develop nAMD ( P < 0.05). Females with lower best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were more likely to develop GA ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: The progression rate to advanced AMD was 54.05% over 8.9 ± 0.4 years. Advanced age, reduced baseline CMT, and lower BCVA were linked to progression. OAG and smoking were associated with higher nAMD, while females had a higher risk of GA.