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New data presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 demonstrate that individuals with psoriasis face a significantly increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss worldwide.1,2
The 15-year retrospective cohort study, led by Alison Treichel, MD, a dermatologist at the University of Rochester, analyzed data from the US TriNetX collaborative network. The study is also one of the largest to date investigating whether psoriasis predisposes individuals to AMD.
Investigators included 22,901 patients aged 55 years and older with psoriasis and compared outcomes with 3 matched control groups: patients with melanocytic nevi (MN), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and patients who had undergone ophthalmologic exams. Individuals with prior AMD diagnoses were excluded.
Over a 10-year follow-up, patients with psoriasis had a 56% higher risk of AMD compared with those with MDD and a 21% higher risk compared with those with MN. By AMD subtype, psoriasis was associated with a 40% increased risk of exudative (wet) AMD and a 13% increased risk of non-exudative (dry) AMD versus the MDD cohort.
“Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease in which lipid dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular disease,” Treichel said in the news release. “Because abnormal lipid deposition in the retina is a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration, particularly the dry form that causes progressive vision loss, it is biologically plausible that psoriasis could increase AMD risk. Our study is the first to demonstrate a novel association between psoriasis and non-exudative (dry) AMD and serves as a hypothesis generating observation for future studies.”
Treatment exposure also influenced outcomes. Patients with psoriasis treated with biologics had a 27% lower risk of AMD compared with biologic-naïve patients treated with topical corticosteroids.
“Our findings support a connection between psoriasis and AMD, both exudative and non-exudative, which could be mediated by shared lipid dysregulation,” Treichel said. “They also suggest that biologic therapies could offer protective benefits beyond skin symptoms. Further research is needed to determine whether these treatments have a true disease-modifying effect and to better understand the role of shared risk factors, including smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and access to specialist care.”
Treichel emphasized the importance of vigilance: “Patients with psoriasis should continue to follow standard eye exam guidelines and promptly report any changes in their vision to their healthcare providers. More research is needed before specific screening recommendations can be made.”
The research team plans to expand their work by incorporating retinal imaging data to better define ocular abnormalities in psoriasis and to evaluate the long-term impact of biologic therapy on AMD progression.
References
- Treichel A, Thomas K, McCormick T, et al. Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration: results from a retrospective observational cohort study. Presented at: European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2025; September 17-20, 2025; Paris, France.
- GBD 2021 Global AMD Collaborators. Global burden of vision impairment due to age-related macular degeneration, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Glob Health. 2025 Jul;13(7):e1175-e1190. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00143-3