Reducing smoking reduces vision loss due to macular degeneration

Jul 01, 2025

Reducing smoking reduces vision loss due to macular degeneration
data photo source=Pixabay



A research team led by Professor Yeon Dong-gun of Kyung Hee University's School of Medicine (Jeong Eon-don, 4th grader, Park Seo-young, Yonsei University Professor Shin Jae-il) analyzed the global disease burden of vision loss due to age-related Macula Degeneration (AMD) using global medical big data from 204 countries around the world and published it by year, gender, and age. It was the world's first large-scale study involving more than 370 global research teams, including the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the Gates Foundation, and Harvard Medical School. The findings were published in the July issue of 'The Lancet Global Health' (IF: 19.9), the world's most prestigious international medical journal.

The research team used data from 1990 to 2021 to analyze the prevalence of vision loss due to macular degeneration and the resulting changes in the burden of health loss. Macular degeneration is a disease in which the central part of the retina is pathologically and anatomically degenerated or degenerated by 'the macula', which is responsible for the majority of vision. It is considered a major cause of vision loss in high-income countries. There is no clear prevention yet, and the incidence rate increases with aging.

Previous studies have dealt with data limited to some countries or regions. Professor Yeon Dong-gun's research team analyzed data from 204 countries around the world for 30 years from 1990 to 2021 and presented comprehensively how vision loss caused by macular degeneration has changed.




The research team also predicted changes in vision loss caused by macular degeneration by 2050. As of 2021, approximately 8 million people worldwide were experiencing vision loss due to macular degeneration, and this figure is expected to rise to approximately 21 million by 2050.

One of the major risk factors for macular degeneration is 'smoking'. The research team also quantitatively analyzed the effect of smoking on macular degeneration. According to the study, if the smoking rate decreases, vision loss due to macular degeneration around the world can be reduced by about 9%. In particular, great preventive effects can be expected in low-income countries with high smoking rates.

Professor Yeon Dong-gun "This study systematically analyzes vision loss caused by macular degeneration at the global level and emphasizes that reducing smoking can be an effective public health strategy for preventing macular degeneration. Policy interventions are urgently needed, especially in low-income countries that lack resources"This study can be an important scientific basis for the establishment of preventive strategies for macular degeneration and the establishment of international health policies," he stressed.






Reducing smoking reduces vision loss due to macular degeneration
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.