Participation of the Alienor study in European projects
The consortium "European Eye Epidemiology"
In 2011, the consortium "European Eye Epidemiology (E3)" was created in order to promote a European dynamic in ophthalmological epidemiology. The objectives of this consortium are to promote collaboration and exchange of data and knowledge in the field of ophthalmological epidemiology in Europe, in particular to harmonize methods (classifications of eye diseases, measurement of risk factors, etc.); to estimate the frequency and impact of visual outcomes in European populations (visual impairment, quality of life, eye diseases); to identify risk factors and pathways for eye diseases, to develop and validate prediction models for eye diseases; and more generally, to develop capacities and expertise in ophthalmological epidemiology with the crucial aim of reducing visual impairments and their impact in European populations. The E3 consortium currently includes 27 teams from 13 European countries, gathering ophthalmological data in more than 170,000 volunteer participants (including the ALIENOR study). One of the first results of this European collaboration was to show that 30% of the European population is affected by myopia, representing about 227 million people. The following study showed an increase in the prevalence of myopia in new generations. The frequency of myopia (prevalence) increased from 17.8% in adults born between 1910 to 1939 to 23.5% for those born between 1940 and 1979.
The European Eye-Risk project
The European Eye-Risk project is based on the collaboration of 11 partner teams from 6 European countries, including eight research institutions, two companies and one patient organization. It uses data from epidemiological studies (including the ALIENOR study) and biological samples from large cohorts and European biobanks (total population of approximately 60,000 participants). The objective of this project is to develop new diagnostic and prognostic tools for AMD that would lead to new recommendations for better management and prevention of AMD as well as new therapeutic targets.