The POLA study (June 1995 through July 1997) is a population-based study on cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and their risk factors in 2584 residents of Séte (South of France), aged 60–95 years. Classification of AMD was performed on 50° fundus photographs, according to an international classification. The presence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors was determined by interviewer-based questionnaire, clinical examination (anthropometry, blood pressure) and fasting plasma measurements. Using a logistic model adjusted for age and gender, late AMD was not significantly associated with a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, use of hypocholesterolemic drugs, hypertension, blood pressure or plasma lipids. Obese subjects (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m 2 ) had a 2.29-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–5.23) and 1.54-fold (CI: 1.05–2.26) increased risk of late AMD and pigmentary abnormalities in comparison with lean subjects. Finally, the risk of soft drusen was decreased in those subjects with a history of cardiovascular disease (odds-ratio (OR) = 0.72, CI: 0.54–0.97), and increased with increasing levels of HDL-cholesterol (OR = 1.52, CI: 1.14–2.02). None of these results were modified by further adjustments for smoking, educational level and plasma alpha-tocopherol. These results need to be confirmed by other studies, which ideally should be longitudinal and prospective.