Vitamins For Age Related Macular Degeneration

By Omar Ahmad, MD

Chesapeake Retina Centers

More Vision & Eye Care Articles

Vitamins For Age Related Macular Degeneration

The treatment options for nonexudative macular degeneration are limited. There are treatment options for age related macular degeneration (AMD) in the experimental stage. The nonexudative or “dry” type of AMD, in which there is no bleeding under the retina, is difficult to study because it progresses over a long period of time years or even decades.

One treatment that has been found to be effective in the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) is the use of vitamins. The AREDS study took 10 years and resulted in the AREDS vitamin containing antioxidants and zinc. These vitamins were found to slow down the progression of the dry type of AMD in high-risk patients. The AREDS report did not show an effect of vitamin supplementation on people with no AMD or early stage AMD.

Patients with intermediate or advanced AMD, according to the AREDS report, may benefit from vitamin supplementation. If you have early-stage dry macular degeneration, a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year can help determine if the disease is progressing. If early-stage dry macular degeneration progresses to the intermediate stage, talk to your doctor about taking specific vitamins for macular degeneration.

In 2006, the same research group started a second study to see if the AREDS vitamins could be improved. This new study generated the AREDS 2 vitamin.

What's the Difference?

AREDS The original AREDS formula contains 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 units of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta-carotene, 80 mg of zinc (zinc oxide), and 2 mg of copper (cupric oxide). The vitamins in this formula have shown a reduced risk of about 25% of advanced AMD over a five-year period.

Beta-carotene is not naturally found in the retina. The body uses it to create vitamin A, allowing the retina to detect light. Beta-carotene has also been found to increase the risk of lung cancer among patients who smoke.

AREDS 2 The AREDS 2 formula contains 10 mg of lutein, 2 mg of zeaxanthin, 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids (350 mg of DHA and 650 mg of EPA), and 25 mg of zinc.

Studies have shown that the addition of lutein/zeaxanthin, in combination with the removal of beta-carotene, have shown an 18% lower risk of developing advanced AMD.

Lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found naturally in the retina, help in the absorption of damaging UV and high-energy blue lighting and have been shown to be a safer alternative to beta-carotene. Prior studies have shown that adding omega-3 fatty acids to the AREDS 2 supplement help promote retinal repair and development.

Multivitamins and AREDS Formulas

A multivitamin alone cannot provide the same levels of antioxidants and zinc as the formulation used in AREDS and AREDS 2. The formulation's levels of antioxidants and zinc are considerably higher than the amounts in any daily multivitamin.

If you are already taking daily multivitamins, and your eye doctor suggests you take the high-dose vitamins for AMD, be sure to review all your vitamin supplements with your primary care doctor before you begin. Because multivitamins contain many important vitamins not found in the macular degeneration formulation, you may want to take a multivitamin along with the vitamins for AMD.

Over the Counter, But Not For Everyone

The AREDS and AREDS 2 formulas are considered a “therapeutic dose” and should be treated like medicine prescribed by your doctors. High-dose nutrients can interfere with medications and can interact with other nutrients to decrease the absorption of nutrients into the body.

In general, treating yourself with high doses of vitamins for macular degeneration is not recommended. Individuals who are considering taking high-dose vitamins for macular degeneration should discuss this with their primary care doctors and/or eye care professionals. They can help you determine which formulation and dosages are best for you.

Vitamins for macular degeneration are not a cure. They will not restore vision already lost from the disease. They may delay the onset of advanced macular degeneration. They may also help people who are at high risk for developing advanced macular degeneration keep their vision.