Can macular degeneration signal increased cancer risk?

Could your eyes offer a window to your overall health? New research suggests they might.

A recent study found that people with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) had a slightly higher risk of developing certain cancers than people without the eye condition. Because wet AMD is an age-related condition primarily affecting people over 50, researchers are exploring whether changes associated with aging could help explain the connection.

Wet AMD is an advanced form of AMD that occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood or fluid, potentially damaging central vision.

“The study doesn’t show that wet AMD causes cancer or that people with the condition are destined to develop cancer,” says Dr. May Soliz, a family medicine provider at Advocate Health Care. “Instead, it gives researchers another reason to explore whether the two conditions may share some underlying biological processes.”

What did the study find?

Researchers analyzed health data from more than 334,000 adults age 50 and older in South Korea. About 84,000 had wet AMD, and researchers compared them with people who didn’t have the condition.

During up to 10 years of follow-up, the rate of new cancer diagnoses was modestly higher among people with wet AMD. The association remained after researchers accounted for factors such as age, smoking, alcohol use and several health conditions.

The association was statistically significant for pancreatic, lung, thyroid, kidney, bladder and prostate cancers. Researchers did not find a significant association with several others, including breast and colorectal cancers.

What could explain the connection?

Researchers don’t yet know why wet AMD may be associated with certain cancers, but they highlighted possible explanations.

One involves abnormal blood vessel growth, which plays a role in wet AMD and can also help tumors grow. Researchers also pointed to chronic inflammation, genetics and other biological changes associated with aging as possible links between the conditions.

“The findings are interesting, but they aren’t a reason for people with wet AMD to worry,” Dr. Soliz says. “For now, studies like this shouldn’t change how people manage their health.”

What should you do if you have wet AMD?

If you have wet AMD, continue following your treatment plan and seeing your eye doctor as recommended.

You also can:

• Keep up with routine medical checkups
• Follow recommended cancer screening guidelines based on your age and individual risk factors
• Avoid smoking or get help quitting if you smoke

The study does not suggest people with wet AMD need additional cancer screenings because of their eye condition.

“If you have concerns about your cancer risk, talk with your doctor about which screenings are appropriate for you,” Dr. Soliz says. “The good news is that you can continue focusing on the steps we already know are important for your vision and overall health.”

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