Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a severe ocular disease characterised by progressive deterioration of the macula, the most sensitive central part of the retina. It is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss among individuals aged ≥60 years in developed countries, and accounts for about 6% of all causes of blindness worldwide. A population-based cross-sectional study in Singapore revealed its age-standardised prevalence was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6–5.5) for early AMD and 0.5% (95% CI 0.4–0.6) for late AMD. Given Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, the prevalence of AMD among its residents aged ≥40 years is projected to increase by 54% from 125,274 (95% CI 123,241–127,307) cases in 2015 to 193,435 (190,295–196,575) cases in 2040.
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