INTRODUCTION: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to visual impairment that affects visual functioning and thereby the ability to be physically active. We investigated physical activity patterns in patients with AMD.

METHODS: Patients with early and late AMD and elderly controls were recruited for this hospital-based cross-sectional study. All participants had their best-corrected visual acuity measured and were interviewed about their physical activity based on questions that covered regular physical activity, physical activity that would work up sweat, climbing the stairs and time spent on walking outdoors.

RESULTS: We recruited 198 participants of whom 196 were eligible for inclusion in the analyses (68 controls, 25 with early AMD and 103 with late AMD). The frequency of regular physical activity did not differ between patients with early and late AMD and elderly controls. Lower best-corrected visual acuity in the best-seeing and the worse-seeing eye was associated with less engagement in physical activities that would work up sweat and a lower number of steps taken daily. Patients with bilateral vision loss from late AMD engaged in physical activities that were more controlled and less demanding of sharp central vision.

CONCLUSION: Patients with late AMD may still be physically active even when the disease progresses and vision is lost, but activities may change into more controlled and less central vision-demanding ones.

FUNDING: The Lundbeck Foundation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.