A metabolic analysis of high myopia and senile macular degeneration.

Abnormal zinc and copper metabolism have been described in several retinal disorders affecting the retinal pigment epithelium. An infrequent presentation of senile macular degeneration in high myopia is well known. We examined the blood for zinc and copper and the urine for copper of three groups of patients, one consisting of high myopia, another with high myopia and primary retinal detachment and the other a group of patients with senile macular degeneration. When comparing the above groups of patients, we found statistically elevated values of serum zinc (p = less than 0.005) in the group of patients with senile macular degeneration. The significance of these findings, and a correlation with the pathogeneses of high myopia and senile macular degeneration is discussed.