A large cohort study presented at EADV Congress 2025 links psoriasis to significantly higher rates of age-related macular degeneration.
New research presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2025 has found that psoriasis is linked to a significantly higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss.
The researchers say their study investigating whether psoriasis also predisposes individuals to AMD, an eye disease affecting millions worldwide, is among the largest to date.
In the retrospective cohort study spanning 15 years, Dr Alison Treichel of the University of Rochester and colleagues analysed data from more than 22,000 patients with psoriasis aged over 55 years using the US TriNetX collaborative network.
Individuals with a prior diagnosis of AMD were excluded. Outcomes were compared with three matched control groups, including patients with melanocytic nevi to represent dermatology controls; those with major depressive disorder to represent chronic disease and healthcare utilisation; and patients who had undergone ophthalmologic examination to ensure comparable diagnostic opportunities.
Over the 10-year follow-up, people with psoriasis were found to have a higher likelihood of developing AMD than all control groups.
Compared with patients with major depressive disorder, psoriasis patients showed a 56% increased risk, and compared with those with melanocytic nevi, a 21% increased risk.
Both exudative and non-exudative forms of AMD were more common, with a 40% and 13% increased risk respectively relative to the major depressive disorder cohort.
Dr Treichel, whose current research focuses on the gut–skin axis and ocular comorbidities in psoriasis, said the findings were important for psoriasis patients and their clinicians.
“Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease in which lipid dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular disease,” she said.
“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.”
There was some positive news from the study. Treatment with biologic therapies appeared to reduce risk, the researchers found.
Psoriasis patients who had received biologics were 27% less likely to develop AMD than those treated only with topical corticosteroids, suggesting that systemic immunomodulation may offer protective benefits beyond skin disease control.
“Our findings support a connection between psoriasis and AMD, both exudative and non-exudative, which could be mediated by shared lipid dysregulation,” Dr 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.”
She said the findings emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant to ocular comorbidities in patients with psoriasis.
“Patients with psoriasis should continue to follow standard eye exam guidelines and promptly report any changes in their vision to their healthcare providers,” she said.
“More research is needed before specific screening recommendations can be made.”
Dr Treichel and her team now plan to extend their research by analysing retinal imaging data from psoriasis patients, with the aim of better characterising ocular abnormalities, determining the prevalence of AMD, and assessing the long-term impact of biologic therapy on disease progression.
The EADV Congress 2025 was held in Paris from 17- 20 September. Founded in 1987, the EADV is a non-profit organisation with a vision to form a premier European Dermatology-Venereology Society. The organisation has more than 12,000 members from around the globe.
