Prevalence and risk factors for epiretinal membranes in a multi-ethnic United States population.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for epiretinal membrane (ERM) in a multi-ethnic population and to evaluate possible racial or ethnic differences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), examined at the second visit of the MESA when retinal photography was performed. METHODS: Data on 5960 participants aged 45 to 84 years from MESA, including white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese persons from 6 United States communities, were analyzed. Epiretinal membrane was assessed from digital nonstereoscopic fundus photographs and was defined as cellophane macular reflex (CMR) without retinal folds or preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF) with retinal folds. Risk factors were assessed from standardized interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory investigations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Epiretinal membrane prevalence by ethnic or racial group and risk factors associated with ERM. RESULTS: The prevalence of any ERM was 28.9%, of which 25.1% were CMR cases and 3.8% were PMF cases. The prevalence of ERM was significantly higher in Chinese persons (39.0%), compared with Hispanic (29.3%), white (27.5%), or black (26.2%; P<0.001) persons. In multivariate models, increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.34, per year increase in age), diabetes (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.39-2.65), and hypercholesterolemia (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.69) were significantly associated with CMR. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that ERM was significantly more common in Chinese persons compared with whites, blacks, and Hispanics. Risk factors for ERM were increasing age, presence of diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.

Prevalence and characteristics of choroidal nevi in an Asian vs white population.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of choroidal nevi in an Asian population and compare this with findings from a white population. METHODS: The Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES) examined a population-based, cross-sectional, age-stratified, random sample of 3280 Malay persons (78.7% participation rate) aged 40 to 80 years living in Singapore. Comprehensive examination of participants included bilateral retinal photography. Choroidal nevi were graded from photographs using the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) protocol. RESULTS: The person-specific prevalence of choroidal nevi was 1.4%, with 50 nevi found in 45 participants. This is lower than the 6.5% prevalence seen in white persons in the BMES. However, characteristics of nevi in Malay persons in the SiMES were similar to those of white persons in the BMES by size (SiMES, 1.27 mm; BMES, 1.25 mm; P = .35), shape (P = .58), color (P = .39), location within posterior pole or periphery (P = .30), and nevus margin proximity to the optic disc (P = .29). Features previously identified as indicating growth or malignant potential (including diameter >6 mm, posterior margin touching optic disc, orange pigment, pigment clumping, and retinal edema) were not found in this sample. CONCLUSION: Choroidal nevi were detected in 1.4% of Malay persons. There were no significant racial or ethnic differences in nevi characteristics between Malay and white persons.