Key Takeaways
- Patients with AMD had higher risks of depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance use, dysthymia, and psychosis compared with controls.
- Visual impairment was associated with substantially greater risks of depression and anxiety in patients with AMD.
- In patients with neovascular AMD, intravitreal therapy was linked to lower risks of depression and anxiety.
Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were found to have a higher risk of developing several mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, self-harm, and psychosis, according to a study. The increased risk was greatest among patients with visual impairment, while intravitreal therapy in neovascular AMD (nAMD) was associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
The study included 126,799 matched cases, with a mean patient age of 74.6 years.
Compared with controls, patients with AMD and cataract had a 27% higher risk of depression and a 19% higher risk of anxiety. Elevated risks were also observed for self-harm, substance use, dysthymia, and psychosis. Visual impairment further increased the likelihood of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.
Subgroup analyses showed patients with dry AMD had greater risks of depression and anxiety than those with nAMD. Among patients with nAMD, receipt of intravitreal injections was associated with reduced risk of both depression and anxiety.
Reference
Xiao J, Yavari N, Nimmagadda H, et al. Association Between Mental Health Disorders in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Cohort Study Using a Global Health Records Network. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2026;57(5):301-308. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20260311-02. Epub 2026 Apr 21. PMID: 42139589.
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