AIM: To explore the correlation between vitamin D(Vit-D)deficiency and age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).

METHODS: A total of 423 cases of middle-aged and aged outpatients(age>45 years)who participated in the physical examination in ophthalmology clinic of Yuncheng First Hospital during February 2018 to February 2019 were included in the cross-sectional study. The clinical information(including sex, age, family history of ARMD, etc.)and biochemical indices(including 25-hydroxyvitamin D \〖25(OH)D\〗, etc.)were collected. The correlations between serum 25(OH)D level and clinical information, as well as biochemical indices, were analyzed. The outpatients were divided into ARMD group(231 cases)and non-ARMD group(192 cases)according to the ARMD situation in the study. The correlation between Vit-D deficiency and ARMD was analyzed.

RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D level was positively correlated with the male, duration of outdoor light exposure(P<0.05), and negatively correlated with age, smoking and drinking(P<0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that Vit-D deficiency was a risk factor associated with ARMD(OR=1.980, 95% CI: 1.829-2.201, P<0.01). Other associated factors included age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and duration of outdoor light exposure >5h/d, which were also risk factors associated with ARMD.

CONCLUSION: Nutritional imbalance due to Vit-D deficiency might be associated with the occurrence of ARMD. Appropriate sun exposure or vit-D supplements could contribute to preventing the development of ARMD.