Review Article

Risk Factors for Age-Related Maculopathy

Table 17

Studies investigating the relationship between iris color and risk for ARM.

StudyNo. of casesMeasure of risk factorType of ARMOdds ratio or relative risk95% confidence interval

Cross-Sectional Studies

Copenhagen City Eye Study [269]924Brown versus blue iris colorDrusen and decreased vision0.7N/A

Blue Mountains Eye Study [270]3654Blue versus brown iris colourEarly ARM1.451.1–1.9
Late ARM1.691.0–2.9
Early ARM1.060.76–1.47 (Right eye)
1.150.85–1.56 (Left eye)

Prospective Studies

Beaver Dam Eye Study [271]3684Brown iris ColorLate ARM1.610.60–4.33 (Right eye)
0.990.41–2.37 (Left eye)

Beaver Dam Eye Study [271]2764Blue versus brown iris colorSoft indistinct drusen1.531.19–1.97
Retinal pigment abnormalities0.580.41–0.82