Original scientific paper
Ultraviolet Sun Radiation and Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Croatian Island Rab
Božidar Vojniković
Sanja Njirić
Miran Čoklo
Josip Španjol
Abstract
This epidemiological study is completed on island Rab, located in North Adriatic Sea. For this study it is important
that Adriatic Sea has one of the highest solar radiations in geographical area of Europe. The aim of this epidemiological
study is to estimate correlation between incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and exposure of sunlight
in two different populations on island Rab. In the first group of population of island Rab, agriculturists and fishermen
(n=1300), incidence of AMD was in 18%, but in urban population only 2.5%. It is very interesting that correlation exists
between incidence of AMD and exfoliation syndrome. In the group of chronic exposure to sunlight (agriculturists and
fishermen) exfoliation syndrome exists in 28%, but in urban population it has never been seen. The age in both populations
was 45–65 years. We can conclude that there is a very significant correlation between chronic exposure to sunlight
and appearance of AMD.
Keywords
AMD; exfoliation syndrome; exposure to sunlight
Hrčak ID:
27420
URI
Publication date:
16.1.2007.
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