Background/aims To describe the prevalence of early, late and any age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a clinical cohort (Australian Heart Eye Study, AHES) and to determine whether associations exist between extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and AMD, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods The AHES is an observational study that surveyed 1680 participants between 2009 and 2012 who presented to a tertiary referral hospital for the evaluation of potential CAD by coronary angiography. Severity and extent of CAD was assessed using three scoring systems: (1) segment/vessel scores, (2) Gensini and (3) extent scores.

Results Prevalence of early and late AMD was 5.8% (n=86) and 1.4% (n=21), respectively. After multivariable adjustment, patients with stenosis >50% in any coronary artery segment (vessel score) had approximately twofold higher odds of early AMD, OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.57). Patients with obstructive coronary stenosis in all three main coronary arteries (segment score) had greater than twofold higher likelihood of early AMD, OR 2.67 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.78). Participants in the highest versus lowest tertile of Gensini scores were also twice as likely to have early AMD, multivariable-adjusted OR 2.27 (95% CI 1.12 to 4.58). Extent scores were not associated with AMD. There was no significant association between CAD and late AMD.

Conclusions Severity of coronary stenosis and the presence of stenotic lesions were independently associated with early AMD. These findings could have potential clinical significance as they suggest that individuals with evidence of CAD may be screened for early AMD.