AMD is the leading cause of blindness amongst those aged 65 and above in developed nations. Currently, there are an approximate 200 million patients getting treatment for the wet type of AMD world wide. With the ageing population, the number of patients affected by this disease is expected to double by 2050. AMD can cause distortion and loss of clarity of central vision and this may affect function of daily activities such as reading text on the computer, phone, or newspaper; driving; and watching television.
To recap from our last blog:
1. AMD can range in severity- from early stages to advanced stages, which is usually known as the Wet or Dry forms
2. There are treatments for the wet forms in terms of antivegf injections. More recently, the Dry or atrophic forms have newly approved treatments.
3. People with a family history of AMD are at greater risk of AMD.
4. Smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are known risk factors for AMD.
Simple Daily Measures to prevent Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
If you have a family history of AMD or have signs of early AMD, such as drusen, or simply belonging to the elderly group population (> age 65),
Follow the simple steps to ensure you get early treatment if required and/ or possibly delay or retard the onset of more advanced stages of AMD.
1) Get an annual eye check up with your eye doctor
2) Amsler grid monitoring (at least twice a week) – monitor for worsening distortion of either eye
3) Quit smoking!
4) Lead a healthy lifestyle and take more green, leafy vegetables
Studies have shown that the consumption of antioxidants in the form of green, leafy vegetables may retard the onset or incidence of AMD.
Studies have found the following food sources (please note these were studies conducted amongst the western population) to have implications for AMD prevention
Nutrients and Food Sources for AMD Prevention | |
Nutrients | Food Sources |
Vitamin C | Citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, broccoli, potatoes |
Vitamin E | Whole grains, vegetable oil, eggs, nuts |
β-Carotene | Carrots, kale, spinach |
Zinc | Meat, poultry, fish, whole grains, dairy products |
Lutein and Zeaxanthin | Chicken egg yolk, leafy green vegetables |
Omega-3 (DHA and EPA) | Fish and seafood, nuts and seeds, plant oils |
*Prevention of the Onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Augustin et alJ Clin Med. 2021 Aug; 10(15): 3297.
5) Lowering cholesterol
6) Take eye vitamins with Lutein and Zeaxanthin
The main reports showing importance of nutritional supplementation have been shown by two AREDS (age related disease studies) study.
The study has looked at the effect of high-dose vitamins C and E (500 mg and 400 IU, respectively), β-carotene (15 mg), and zinc supplementation (80 mg) on AMD progression. Patients included in the study ranged from early to advanced AMD and has concluded that demonstrated that AREDS supplementation reduced the risk of AMD progression as compared to placebo in the order of 25%
The following is the dose of required vitamin supplementation as per AREDS study
AREDS-2 Formulation | |
Nutritional Supplement | Recommended Daily Dose |
Vitamin E | 400 IU |
Vitamin C | 500 mg |
Lutein | 10 mg |
Zeaxanthin | 2 mg |
Copper | 2 mg |
Zinc | 80 mg |
*Prevention of the Onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Augustin et alJ Clin Med. 2021 Aug; 10(15): 3297.
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