©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety in age-related macular degeneration
Sarita Aggarwal, Arvind Kumar Morya, Prateek Nishant, Sony Sinha, Rajwinder Kaur, Ranjeet Kumar Sinha, Rannusha Morya
Sarita Aggarwal, Department of Ophthalmology, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad 201009, Uttar Pradesh, India
Arvind Kumar Morya, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 508126, Telangana, India
Prateek Nishant, Department of Retina and Uvea, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 800014, Bihār, India
Sony Sinha, Department of Ophthalmology-Vitreo-Retina, Neuro-Ophthalmology, and Oculoplasty, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 801507, Bihar, India
Rajwinder Kaur, Department of Ophthalmology, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda 151101, Punjab, India
Ranjeet Kumar Sinha, Department of Community Medicine, Patna Medical College, Patna 800004, Bihar, India
Rannusha Morya, Department of Psychology, Manipal University, Jaipur 303007, Rājasthān, India
Co-first authors: Sarita Aggarwal and Arvind Kumar Morya.
Author contributions: Aggarwal S and Morya AK contributed equally and are hence designated as co-first authors. Aggarwal S, Nishant P, and Kaur R contributed to conceptualization; Aggarwal S, Nishant P, Sinha S, Kaur R, Sinha RK, Morya R contributed to investigation; Aggarwal S, Nishant P, Morya AK, Sinha RK, Morya R contributed to supervision; Nishant P, Sinha S, Kaur R contributed to resources; Aggarwal S, Nishant P, Morya AK, and Sinha S contributed to data curation; Aggarwal S, Nishant P, Morya AK, and Sinha S contributed writing - original draft; Nishant P and Morya R contributed to visualization; Morya AK and Sinha RK contributed to formal analysis; Morya AK and Morya R contributed to writing - review and editing; Kaur R and Sinha RK contributed to methodology; Sinha RK contributed to validation. The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, and the authors certify that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this document have been met and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Arvind Kumar Morya, Additional Professor, Consultant, Researcher, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibi Nagar, Hyderabad 508126, Telangana, India.
bulbul.morya@gmail.com
Received: December 23, 2025
Revised: January 30, 2026
Accepted: February 12, 2026
Published online: March 6, 2026
Processing time: 76 Days and 10.6 Hours
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of central vision loss among older adults and is increasingly recognized as a condition with significant psychological consequences.
AIM
To synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, correlates, and management of depression and anxiety among individuals with AMD.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2000-2025) identified 33 relevant systematic reviews, observational studies, and interventional trials. Extracted data included study design, population characteristics, assessment tools, prevalence estimates, associated risk factors, and details of psychosocial or pharmacological interventions. Descriptive synthesis was performed because heterogeneity in study design and outcome measurement precluded meta-analysis. The synthesis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
Prevalence of depression in AMD ranges from 15.7% to 44%, with pooled estimates around 22%-25%, while anxiety affects 9.6%-30.1% of patients. Risk factors include severity of visual loss, type of AMD (wet or dry), female gender, and limited social support. These comorbidities exacerbate disability, impair quality of life, and reduce adherence to ophthalmologic treatment. Psychosocial interventions - particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, self-management programs, and behavioral activation - are effective in reducing depression and improving coping. Pharmacologic options such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors may also be beneficial, though evidence remains limited.
CONCLUSION
An integrated, multidisciplinary approach combining psychological, pharmacological, and rehabilitative strategies is recommended. Future research should focus on anxiety-specific interventions and long-term outcomes to optimize mental health and visual rehabilitation in AMD patients.
Core Tip: Depression and anxiety are common but underrecognized in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Routine mental health screening, timely psychosocial interventions, and integration of psychiatric care within ophthalmology can improve overall patient outcomes and quality of life. This systematic review also synthesizes current evidence on the prevalence, correlates, and management of depression and anxiety among individuals with age-related macular degeneration.
