Increasing sleep duration is associated with geographic atrophy and age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE:Sleeping too much or too little has been associated with adverse health outcomes including total mortality, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. This study explored the relationship between sleep patterns and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS:One thousand and three consecutive patients in a retina practice were prospectively surveyed regarding sleep histories. Each patient then had a masked ophthalmic examination and was graded on the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy System. The relationship between AMD grade and sleep hours was analyzed in a logistic regression model. Multivariable analysis was performed after adjustment for age, gender, and smoking history. RESULTS:In multivariable analysis, controlling for age, gender, and smoking history, sleep hours are not associated with neovascular AMD (P = 0.97) but are associated with geographic atrophy (P = 0.02). Sleeping >8 hours is associated with geographic atrophy (age-adjusted odds ratio, 7.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-31.6) compared with patients without AMD. CONCLUSION:Longer sleep duration is associated with geographic atrophy secondary to AMD. These altered sleep patterns may be another morbidity of AMD, but further study is necessary.