(Paris, France, Thursday, 18 September 2025) New research presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 reveals that people with psoriasis face a significantly increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss.¹
Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease with multiple comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.2 This study is among the largest to date investigating whether psoriasis also predisposes individuals to AMD, an eye disease affecting millions worldwide.3
Dr. Alison Treichel and her team conducted a 15-year retrospective cohort study using data from the US TriNetX collaborative network. The study included 22,901 patients over the age of 55 with psoriasis and compared their outcomes with three propensity-matched control groups: individuals with melanocytic nevi (MN) to represent other dermatology patients; patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) to account for chronic disease and healthcare use; and patients who had undergone an ophthalmologic exam to ensure comparable opportunities for AMD diagnosis. Individuals with a prior diagnosis of AMD were excluded.
In a separate analysis, psoriasis patients treated with biologics were compared to those treated with topical corticosteroids who had not received biologics before or during the follow-up period.
Over the 10-year follow up period, people with psoriasis had a higher likelihood of developing AMD compared with patients in the MDD and MN cohorts, with a 56% and 21% increased risk, respectively. Looking at the two main forms of AMD – exudative (wet) and non-exudative (dry) – psoriasis was associated with a 40% and 13% higher risk, respectively, compared with the MDD cohort.
“Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease in which lipid dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular disease,” explained Dr. Treichel. ““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”
Notably, psoriasis patients treated with biologic therapies had a 27% lower risk of developing AMD compared with biologic-naïve patients treated with topical corticosteroids only.
“Our findings support a connection between psoriasis and AMD, both exudative and non-exudative, which could be mediated by shared lipid dysregulation,” Dr. Treichel explained. “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.”
Dr. Treichel emphasised that individuals with psoriasis should remain vigilant. “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.”
Looking ahead, the research team plans to build on these findings by analysing retinal imaging data from psoriasis patients to better characterise ocular abnormalities, define the prevalence of AMD, and evaluate the long-term effects of biologic therapy on disease progression.
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A reference to the EADV Congress 2025 must be included in all coverage and/or articles associated with this study.
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About the study author:
Dr. Alison Treichel is a dermatologist at the University of Rochester whose current research focuses on the gut–skin axis and ocular comorbidities in psoriasis. She earned her medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. She completed dermatology residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and completed a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.
About EADV:
Founded in 1987, EADV is a non-profit organisation with a vision to form a premier European Dermatology-Venereology Society. The Academy counts over 12,000 members from all around the globe, providing a valuable service for every type of dermatologist-venereologist professional. The EADV is dedicated to advancing patient care, education and research by providing a unique platform to bring people together and share ideas.
This year, the EADV Congress will take place in Paris, France, and online from 17-20 September 2025. Find out more: https://eadv.org/congress/
References:
- Treichel, A., Thomas, K., McCormick, T. et al. (2025). Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration: results from a retrospective observational cohort study. Presented at the EADV Congress 2025.
- Boehncke, W-H. (2018). Systemic Inflammation and Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Psoriasis Patients: Causes and Consequences. Frontiers in Immunology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5895645/
- GBD 2021 Global AMD Collaborators (2025). 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. The Lancet. Global health, 13(7), e1175–e1190. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00143-3