Macular Degeneration Deposits and the Heart: A Study Links Them to Higher Risk in Severe Aortic Stenosis

The retina is the only place in the body where doctors can look directly at blood vessels and nerve tissue without a single incision. That is why researchers keep finding links between what we see in the eye and conditions elsewhere in the body. A study presented at the Retina Society 2026 meeting in Los Angeles adds a new example involving macular degeneration and the heart.

What the researchers looked at

Subretinal drusenoid deposits are a type of deposit seen on OCT scans in some people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Earlier research has tied them to cardiovascular conditions that reduce blood flow. A team from Mount Sinai and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, led by R. Theodore Smith, MD, PhD, reviewed records of 929 patients with severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart’s main outflow valve. Of these, 96 had eye exams that documented whether these deposits were present.

What they found

• Across the group, patients with these deposits had significantly worse surgical risk scores than those without them.
• In the subtype of aortic stenosis with the worst outlook, called classical low-flow, low-gradient, the deposits tracked with lower measures of blood flow from the heart.
• The authors propose the deposits as a possible imaging marker to flag patients who need closer cardiovascular evaluation.

What this does and does not mean

This was a retrospective study, and only about 1 in 10 of the patients had documented eye exams. It shows an association, not proof that one problem causes the other, and it does not mean everyone with AMD has heart valve disease. The researchers describe this as ongoing, multidisciplinary work.

Practical points

• If you have AMD, keep regular eye exams and tell your eye doctor about heart conditions, shortness of breath, or fainting.
• Make sure your primary care doctor knows your eye diagnosis.
• Do not ignore heart symptoms because your eye exam was “stable,” and vice versa.

AMD with complex findings is managed by retina specialists; ask for a referral when needed. For more plain-language reading on eye health, see malibulasik.com.

Source: Retina Society 2026: Subretinal deposits in AMD may flag severe aortic stenosis that increases surgical risk (Ophthalmology Times, 09/25/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.