Macular Degeneration Linked To Shorter Life Span

People who develop age-related macular degeneration tend to die earlier than those who don't get the vision-robbing disease, a new study reports. Why this happens isn't known, but experts suspect eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts may be a sign of early aging or other pervasive systemic health problems, such as heart disease. "This study confirms what other studies have shown, that people who have cataracts are more likely to die than people who don't," said lead researcher Dr. Frederick L. Ferris III, clinical director of the National Eye Institute. "A new finding is that the same is true for AMD."

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