Cataracts and Macular Degeneration in Older Americans

Cataracts and macular degeneration compromise visual function in older persons. In the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the incidence of cataracts for persons aged 45 to 64 years was as follows: white men, 5.6%; white women, 2.1%; black men, 8.3%; and black women, 8.5%. For persons aged 65 to 75 years, the rates were as follows: white men, 21.6%; white women, 26.8%; black men, 38.3%; and black women, 39.1%. For macular degeneration the rates in persons aged 45 to 64 years were as follows: white men, 2.3%; white women, 2.3%; black men, 3.8%; and black women, 2.4%. For the older age group, the rates were as follows: white men, 9.6%; white women, 6.9%; black men, 9.3%; and black women, 11.4%. Mean systolic blood pressure tended to be slightly higher in persons with either cataracts or macular degeneration than in persons without these conditions.