AREDS shows markedly reduced
AMD progression
N
utritional supplements were associated with a reduced risk of
progressive neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study; however, the
supplements did not reduce the risk of geographic atrophy.
HYPERLINK “http://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/search.aspx?q=AREDS&
4,757 patients; 3,549 patients took part in an epidemiologic follow-up study,
which reported 10-year outcomes. The study featured a formulation
comprising 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta-carotene,
80 mg of zinc and 2 mg of copper.
Patients participating in AREDS were randomly assigned to one of four
treatment groups: placebo, zinc, antioxidants or antioxidants plus zinc.
Patients were also assigned to one of four categories: category 1 (no AMD
with small drusen); category 2 (early AMD with small or intermediate drusen,
pigment abnormalities or a combination of both); category 3 (no advanced
AMD but one or more large drusen, extensive area of intermediate drusen or
geographic atrophy not involving the center of the macula); and category 4
(advanced AMD, central geographic atrophy or neovascular AMD in one eye).
Patients assigned to the placebo group in categories 3 and 4 had a
significantly higher risk of developing advanced AMD or neovascular AMD
than those assigned to the AREDS formulation (P < .001).
The risk of developing central geographic atrophy was not reduced
significantly. Moderate vision loss was reduced significantly (P = .002).
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OPTICAL PRISM | OCTOBER 2013
35